Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

A stop for Sofia & I in 2015.

Tempranillo with this age is so soft, elegant and even a tad sweet for such a rustic varietal. This bottle has been well stored acquired from a distributor. Very little soft, mushy sediment and no bottle neck burn. Perfect fill line.

It glides onto the palate. Ripe; sweet to tart/sour cherries, rhubarb, brambly blackberries/black raspberries, baked plums & strawberries with some me hovering raspberries/blueberries. Dry-tobacco-stems-leather-top soil-crushed rocks-understated herbs-sage/bay leaf, haunting spices, incense, balsamic, sweet, mid tarriness, dry tomatoes w/ leaf, dry; dark red flowers-roses, rainfall acidity, well balanced, soft structure/tension and elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and falls on dry earthiness & flowers.

This picked up weight as it decanted & with the Bavette Steak w/ Chimichurri Sauce.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2016 Reserva pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black cherry, figs, tobacco, old wood and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A delicious, refined Rioja Tinto in the early stages. I expect this will only gain complexity with time in the cellar. Drink now through 2041.

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.

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.