Jay Kline

9.4

Opened about three hours prior to service for color check and make sure the wine was sound since I was taking to a tasting. It was subsequently decanted about an hour prior to service. The 1998 pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some slight signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing still, with notes of tart and ripe red fruits: Bing cherries, ripe raspberries, underbrush, new leather, spices, minerals, dry rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Everyone was stunned how young this came across. The fruit is still so fresh and the structure remains impressive. An evergreen wine and a perfect example why Priorat is so special. Drink now with some air and through 2038. — 16 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium lemon yellow . Quite high toned , with nutty orange and lemon rind , dried apricot , touch of resin and toasty almonds . On the palate quite rounded with dried orange rind , lemon pith , and toasted almonds finish . High acidity and lots of extract . This is drinking well but will continue at this level for perhaps another 5-10 years . Lots of life yet . — 16 hours ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2008 | Reliable old school Rioja, well balanced with vanilla, mocca, cedar — 8 days ago

Jae Cho

9.1

In an awkward spot that suffers by comparison to an amazing mosel troken. Has much that’s delicious, but the taut, stony tertiary flavors are incipient not quite showy. — 6 days ago

Brian Hearty

9.3

2015. Wasn’t sure what to pair with this delicious Filipino rice dish with longanisa, chicken, and cumin crab fat butter (likely a wide range of whites, rosés, and lighter reds would work well), but I wanted to try this Spanish Crianza and it was wonderful! The fruit flavors were enough to complement the sweet sausage and the smooth tannins cut through the richness without intensifying the spice. — 3 days ago

ESF

9.0

Not your standard jammy Monastrell: deep wafting (mostly) dark fruited aromas, licorice & minerals, just oozing - peppery notes as well. Broad smooth on palate (med + weight) not much acidity, rugged tannins leading to modest finish. Great QPR @ Costco — a month ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

12/2024. Dry and full of flavor. Dark in color and nice on the palate. — 16 days ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Poured into a decanter maybe an hour prior to service. The 1970 Tondonia Gran Reserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core, moving towards a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and absolutely brilliant with a mix of desiccated and ripe fruits: dried Morello and Montmorency cherry, cocoa powder, mushrooms, old leather bound books, an entire cabinet full of dried herbs and spices, a memory of barnyard and a deciduous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is dry with good structure still: medium tannin (fully integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and makes me believe there is something bigger than us in this life. This bottle, on this afternoon, gives the confidence to embrace the mystery. Drink now with an hour of air but I get the sense this is one of those Energizer Bunny wines… — 6 days ago

Abbas Zand

9.6

Exotic red fruit notes. Red and black raspberry w exotic spice, earthy flavors. A lot of nice Oak influence. Very nice balance. Quite a lot of tannins. Can use more time in the bottle, but, already delicious.
Fantastic Rioja wine. Love it.
$26 — 4 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

A nice wine!! A blend of mostly Tinta del País/Tempranillo (from old vineyards), with a splash of Garnacha and other grapes, including whites. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe fresh fruits, herb and complex spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with vanilla oak and cacao. Good balance, fine elegant tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit and earthy character. Very nice! — a day ago