Selección Rioja Tempranillo

Close to current release. Just under a year and a half in both French and American oak barrels, then almost 20yrs in tank! 90% Tempranillo.

Opened this alongside a bottle of 2018 Cayuse Impulsivo (Tempranillo)…you won’t find the signature Cayuse funk here, but there is enough green/vegetal aromatics to where these work on the same table as well as spiced red fruits. Deep red-purple in the glass with a hint of fading around the rim. The palate shows a lot of youthful acidity (almost spritz-like) with green peppercorn, black cherries, underripe blackberries and pipe tobacco. Not uber complex, but for 24yrs, this is extremely fresh and shows a fun side of Rioja that isn’t oak-centric.

Dried red fruit, earth, leather. Better than expected and good with meat.

Marvelous 22-year old #rioja just shows how proper storage from a volume producer can yield so much enjoyment in a relatively inexpensive bottle. Opened and poured slightly cooled. Immediate bouquet much fresher than expected, crunchy red fruit, black tea, dried flowers. Acidity still vibrant on palate but red/black berry fruit was muted, as expected, but tannins had softened to a delicate texture. After 20-30 minutes in the glass the nose changed markedly with caramel, marzipan tertiary notes drifting out. Aged Rioja is an excellent flexible food-paring wine and proved ideal for a premium steakhouse experience.. Bacon-wrapped shrimp tasted delicious with this wine.

Medium ruby with pretty purple undertones. The nose arrives a bit muted, a bit subtle at first but the action soon picks up with some nice smoked meat and wood aromas. Floral notes really begin to dominate after an hour or so with tobacco and vanilla coming to join the party. Cherries, both black and red, along with raspberries and just a touch of warm blueberry pie.

At 22 years of age, this is showing so well. Feels youthful and vigorous with years to go. No sign of fading or bricking whatsoever. Well integrated and fairly robust in spots. There’s a nice level of complexity to be found here. The soft, subtle spice is ever present and a joy. The dark fruit shines after a lengthy decant with that oak coming through towards the end. The finish is long and lusty and leaves you wanting just a little more. Really, really fun.

Silky tannins on an forest floor with brambly fruit. Classic rioja showing its age nicely!

Have to admit I’m one of those who scrunches his nose at the mention of crianzas. Well, nose straighten out by this surprisingly mature 20 yr old (crianza??). Drinks more like a moderately bodied, high priced brunello—excellent!

Fruity nose, not overly alcoholic, reddish brown colour, smooth, dark, elegant palette with a touch of tannins brightening up at the end.

A pleasant experience.

First time I used a blender to aerate. Thirty pulses and it was 3 hours more evolved. Nice wine, good nose and palate. All the hallmarks of rioja are present.

By the glass option. Heavy black olive upon open. Dried fig and leather. When paired with beef tartare, the wine gained some of its fruit back. Def a food wine and fun to try a rioja with age