Viñedos de Páganos

El Puntido Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo

9.2104 ratings
9.226 pro ratings
La Rioja Alavesa, La Rioja, Spain
Tempranillo
Lamb, Tomato-Based, Polenta, Hard Cheese, Pork, Beef, Pasta, Mushrooms, Soft Cheese, Chicken, Venison, Exotic Spices, Potato, Turkey, Beans & Peas, Herbs, Baking Spices, Pungent Cheese, Duck, Salami & Prosciutto, White Rice, Chili & Hot Spicy, Lasagna, Pizza, Barbecue, Mexican Cuisine, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Beautiful. Young Tempranillo is rough & rugged Wild West tumble weed. This is soft, ruby, lush falling onto minerality and dry brush.

The fruits are dryish to ripe, creamy and rich; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum into black plum pudding, dark cheries, blueberries hues on the long set, dry tobacco, sandalwood to cedar, dry herb-sage & thyme driven, limestone/sandstone minerals, black pepper, anise to black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, moist, grey, volcanic clay, withering, dark red, flowers, round acidity, balance, softened tensioned, nicely structured and polish for days that lasts two-minutes.

Paired this with/ a dry rub tri-tip and a burgundy marinaded Cardiff Crack tri-tip. Both very different and enjoyable, but this was a slightly more enjoyable with the Cardiff Crack burgundy marinate.

Photos of; two of their different seasonal vinyards, cave entrance & large cellar vats.

Beautiful. Young Tempranillo is rough & rugged Wild West tumble weed. This is soft, ruby, lush falling onto minerality and dry brush.

The fruits are dryish to ripe, creamy and rich; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum into black plum pudding, dark cheries, blueberries hues on the long set, dry tobacco, sandalwood to cedar, dry herb-sage & thyme driven, limestone/sandstone minerals, black pepper, anise to black licorice, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, moist, grey, volcanic clay, withering, dark red, flowers, round acidity, balance, softened tensioned, nicely structured and polish for days that lasts two-minutes.

Paired this with/ a dry rub tri-tip and a burgundy marinaded Cardiff Crack tri-tip. Both very different and enjoyable, but this was a slightly more enjoyable with the Cardiff Crack burgundy marinate.

Photos of; two of their different seasonal vinyards, cave entrance & large cellar vats.

Jul 5th, 2024
M. Christopher Roebuck

So I commented on this earlier. It's better this time. My final two bottles. These are perfectly aged Riojas. Leather, rare meats, cedar, fading licorice on the nose. The palate is perfect tonight. Smooth, silky. To me, this is the epitome of "Peak". If you can get this, buy it and drink it. Try @WineAccess.

93+ points

So I commented on this earlier. It's better this time. My final two bottles. These are perfectly aged Riojas. Leather, rare meats, cedar, fading licorice on the nose. The palate is perfect tonight. Smooth, silky. To me, this is the epitome of "Peak". If you can get this, buy it and drink it. Try @WineAccess.

93+ points

Apr 21st, 2023
M. Christopher Roebuck

Could use a lot more decant, but I'm impatient. Ruby through garnet with flecks of orange towards the rim. Aromas of fig, licorice, worn leather, forest floor. Medium acidity, even medium plus at age 15. On the palate, leather, mushrooms, some lingering blackberry.

93 points

Could use a lot more decant, but I'm impatient. Ruby through garnet with flecks of orange towards the rim. Aromas of fig, licorice, worn leather, forest floor. Medium acidity, even medium plus at age 15. On the palate, leather, mushrooms, some lingering blackberry.

93 points

Apr 2nd, 2023
Austin Hohnke

Pop and pour Gran Reserva in the perfect place. It wears the 26 months in French barrique very well with flavors of coffee grounds and dark chocolate well integrated with notes of sun drenched berries and earth. There is a special minerality to this. Ample acidity and exquisite fine-grained tannin. Really well balanced given the 14.5% abv. and absolutely delicious. This is ready to go on it’s own or with some rabbit ragu.

Pop and pour Gran Reserva in the perfect place. It wears the 26 months in French barrique very well with flavors of coffee grounds and dark chocolate well integrated with notes of sun drenched berries and earth. There is a special minerality to this. Ample acidity and exquisite fine-grained tannin. Really well balanced given the 14.5% abv. and absolutely delicious. This is ready to go on it’s own or with some rabbit ragu.

Dec 24th, 2021
Jordan Wardlaw

2006 El Puntido is the current release, and it is stunning. Remarkably elegant, Burgundy-like expression of Rioja Alta from a cooler high elevation site. High-toned, floral and mineral with silken texture, melted tannins and ample concentration. Iron fist inside a velvet glove.

2006 El Puntido is the current release, and it is stunning. Remarkably elegant, Burgundy-like expression of Rioja Alta from a cooler high elevation site. High-toned, floral and mineral with silken texture, melted tannins and ample concentration. Iron fist inside a velvet glove.

Sep 21st, 2019
ADAM STROMFELD

Dirty barnyard nose soft and elegant fruit very approachable elegant and balanced

Dirty barnyard nose soft and elegant fruit very approachable elegant and balanced

Oct 4th, 2018
Miguel Ostrowski

Current release and kicking butt. Awesome Rioja showing it all, decant and enjoy it with some meat!!

Current release and kicking butt. Awesome Rioja showing it all, decant and enjoy it with some meat!!

Aug 16th, 2018
John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.4

Unblelieveably delicious. Cooked black cherries, red currant, salted smoked meat, sasparilla, bitter chocolate, fennel, licorice, soy sauce, balsamic, wet dog. Structure, Umami.

Unblelieveably delicious. Cooked black cherries, red currant, salted smoked meat, sasparilla, bitter chocolate, fennel, licorice, soy sauce, balsamic, wet dog. Structure, Umami.

May 15th, 2018
Ryan Wofford

Big fruit and med plus tannins. Still a bit dusty after 30 min. I would t hold this too long... go now & reap rewards

Big fruit and med plus tannins. Still a bit dusty after 30 min. I would t hold this too long... go now & reap rewards

1 person found it helpfulJan 25th, 2017
Ryan Wofford

Let the dust blow off for overripe baked blackberries, twigs and earth

Let the dust blow off for overripe baked blackberries, twigs and earth

Nov 14th, 2016