Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

vintage 2004 | classic Rioja from a great year. Much character but it needed half an hour to open up and then expression of a beautiful smell with plums, vanilla, Scottish pipe tobacco.

Very much in the classic and old school winemaking camp. Med+ nose of tertiary red fruits and spices, light American oak notes of dill and savory. Medium bodied, med+ acidity, tannin are medium and finely textured, med/med+ elegant finish. I expected more complexity and depth.

this is the kind of wine you buy on spec as a vote of confidence that you'll soon have some unexpected moment of good fortune—willful superstition, your Tony Robbins Reserva, your crypto ambrosia—and the more you believe, the better it works. $50.

All about nuance and finesse, not the typical Gran Rerva in my experience. Dark cherries, earth, dried flowers, and leather/tobacco.

This is a nice 10 yr old wine IF you like American oak. It's not over the top oaky at all, but you can tell it's American (not a favorite of Mia's). SS

Last had 4 years ago and thr time has brought this into balance. Expressing very nicely tonight - the oak has blown off, and now the earthy foresty fruit expresses itself with clarity. Excellent acid on the finish which goes on a while. Nice pairing with a leg of lamb on Christmas!

Really delicious Rioja we found in ABQ a little over a year ago. Paired well with recipes from my new Zatinya cookbook.

Last bottle, still hitting on all cylinders. Sad to see it go 😩

Been a long time since I’ve had a rioja. This was nice and very restrained and classic. Decanted for 2 hours and had with lamb chops which was a good pairing. Still, this didn’t “wow” - the oak blew off with the decant, but it was still rather “dusty”. Lacked that acid / refreshing lift at the end. Still a nice wine.

Fresh red and black berries, forward oak, toasty vanilla, but not overdone, resolved tannins, and nice long finish. . . . Two days later, still very much alive and more harmonious. Nice surprise.