Viña Bosconia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

Powerful and stoic wine at this point. Needs 10 years to unwind.

Leaner than the El Puntido. This is more classic Tempranillo. Drier & earthier.

Beautiful wine. Ripe, juicy & slightly candied & floral fruits of; mid to dark cherries, black raspberries, black raspberries, dry blue berries. Cherry cola, dry tobacco w/ ash, dry leathery, barrel staves, muddy herb mix, dark, dry spices, steeped, sun tea, mid; clove, nutmeg, vanilla, limestone minerals, crushed limestone/dry rocks, dry flowers that are black, red w/ dry lavender, round, high acidity with a high, dry tannin finish that falls on to the wild, dry, earthy, wildest finish that is balanced for many minutes.

Paired this with/ a dry rub tri-tip and a burgundy marinaded Cardiff Crack tri-tip. Both very different and enjoyable, but liked the dry rub with the Rioja.

Photos of, my visit to the Bodega, old oak vats that are decades old, neutral wood that is still used as of 2015 when I visited & been repaired endlessly, old wood press and tasting room outside their cellar/tasting room.

A blend of 80% Tempranillo with 15% Garnacha, rest Graciano and Mazuelo, aged 5 years in American oak, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe jammy fruits, spice and tobacco notes, resulting from a warm dry growing season. On the palate flavors of ripe plum, blueberry and ripe cherry with spice, tobacco and cedar notes. Fine big rustic tannins, long finish, savory ending with tobacco and leather notes. Nice!

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 3. The 2011 “Bosconia” pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of sour cherry, dill, leather, dried earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium++ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, elegant and leans towards the bitter side of the spectrum. Good on its own but I think these really excel with food. I’ve probably covered this before in previous TN’s but the wines of LdH might not be for everyone but I find them to be truly special and while there tends to be quite a bit of variation, they are always full of soul. Drink now with patience and through 2036.

Maybe the not the strongest vintage but which makes this even more astonishing.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, plums, sour cherries, light oak, spices, peppercorn, dark coffee, tobacco leaf, earth, wet leaves and herbs.

Short finish with round tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This 13 year old is showing nice complexity now. Tasty and a good food wine.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

This 2010 vintage was probably the best vintage in Rioja in the last 20 years. So nice to try these kind of wines.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 80% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha with Graciano and Mazuelo. Aged for 5 years in used American oak barrels.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

Flawed. Butterscotch, dry fruit. Oxidized?

Tasted blind & thought hi end Chinon, or some Cab Franc given its funk & superb tension between its acid & fruit; all kinds of forest bark & pinecones, dark red fruits, & a slight menthol edge. Develops too in the glass, & feels like the palate & aftertaste can go on forever. Though the lesser priced of its Tondonia sibling (& very different), this for me is one of the 8 great wonders-& values-of the wine world.

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. What a beautiful color.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Showing cherries, raspberries, black plums, currants, oak, light vanilla, spices, cola, chocolates, earth, wet leaves, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, rust, blood and herbs.

Dry on the palate with a nice mouthfeel. Shows nice complexity at this point.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and pomegranates.

This 13 year old is starting to drink very nicely now, and will continue to age in the next 7 years.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show itself. Easy drinking once it opens up. Elegant with good structure.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Paired nicely with the Prosciutto.

A blend of 80% Tempranillo with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. Aged in used American oak barrels for five years.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

A blend of 80% Tempranillo with 15% Garnacha, rest Graciano and Mazuelo, aged 5 years in American oak, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe jammy fruits, spice and tobacco notes, resulting from a warm dry growing season. On the palate flavors of ripe plum, blueberry and ripe cherry with spice, tobacco and cedar notes. Fine big rustic tannins, long finish, savory ending with tobacco and leather notes. Nice!