Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

Solid!

After an initial smell and taste, I felt the wine was a bit shy and some air would do some good. Additionally, there appeared to be quite a bit of sediment so I poured into a Riedel Amadeo decanter about an hour before service. The 2009 Reserva pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core with some slight rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark dried cherries, sage, dried/cracked leather, dill, tobacco, anise, a touch of furniture varnish and some baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with some added mint on the very long finish. This is a very lovely, traditional leaning Reserva that’s just beginning to show secondary characteristics. Drinking well now and should continue to do so well past 2029.

Blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 5% Graciano, aged in oak for 20 months, deep Ruby with an elegant bouquet of berry fruits, cigar bo spice with earthy tones, a traditional Rioja. On the palate, the wine was silky smooth, elegant with layers of flavors, blackberry and sour cherry, tobacco, smoky cedar, vanilla spice, very well balanced with fine soft chewy tannins resembling a Nebbiolo, clean structure ending with a nice long chalky earthy character.

Blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 5% Graciano, aged in oak for 20 months, deep Ruby with an elegant bouquet of berry fruits, cigar box, spice with earthy tones, a traditional Rioja. On the palate, the wine was silky smooth, elegant with layers of flavors, blackberry and cherry, tobacco, smoky cedar, dark fruit, vanilla spice, very well balanced with fine soft tannins and a clean structure ending with a nice long chalky earthy character.

A bit closed at the moment. Even with lots of air this wasn’t super expressive. Polished and very easy to drink. Would like to try again in 3-5.

Earthy and dry. Delicious. Even more delicious because I am in Charleston for a long weekend with great friends.

I hate this wine. Somewhere between Bordeaux and Sherry you can find what’s in my glass.

I always get a weird astringent woodyness from this wine

Just a random pull from the wine fridge and what nice surprise! Black fruits still very prominent with hints of smoke and leather. Still has a lot more time left...except we are going to drink the whole bottle today.

Vanilla, coconut, sweet and sour red cherry and plum, clove, spearmint, licorice, compost, clay, dried flowers, IODINE, dill, cola. Elevated to high acidity, smooth integrated tannins, medium plus alcohol and body.