Navarra Graciano

Excellent value. Medium bodied, very pure. Black fruits, pepper, violets

Good clean, vaguely bordelaise with a slightly leafy component to the nose. Holding well, but may have been more interesting younger.

Balsamic vinegar, and fig Newtons, lingering tannins.

Great wine for the price. Mineral, dried figs, tannic

Latest vintage 2013: quite savoury, smoky and crushed black pepper. Heavily spiced style. Dry, very high in avidity, driving through more red fruit, cherries, plum, light in tannic grip. Spiced, oaky, smoky finish the black pepper and a distinct heat, almost chorizo-like on the finish. Decent, more aromatic than powerful, not for those who like the monster styles from Rioja. Elegant for Graciano!

For the money (£6) this is top drawer. Heady, peppery and smoky, blackberry, liquorice and chocolate. Immediately pleasing, big, soft, spicy and quite alcoholic. But good character for a few squids. Jubbly lovely. 2012 vintage. The next vintage (2013) is much lighter, and more acidic in style

Changed quite a bit in the glass to reveal more fruit. #quaffable #ctbucklinwine

I know it is from Navarra and not Rioja, but this seems to lack all of the spice and power that Graciano should have. Medium bodied, good zesty acids, but just meh. I would guess in different circumstances this would be great.

Again pretty good.

Outstanding Graciano