Rioja
...now browsing by tag
Saturday, December 10th, 2011





Vintage: 1978
Type: Rioja Gran Reserva (Tempranillo)
Country: Spain – Rioja

On the edge, the colour has matured to a reddish brown. On the nose is tobacco, light oak and a hint of dried fruits. On the pallet is a surprising amount if red fruit, this wine is still going strong! The tannins are completely integrated and the finish is long and supple.

Posted in ED Gold Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 1978, Bodegas Riojanas, Gran Reserva, Monte Real, Rioja, Tempranillo
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011





Vintage: 2004
Type: Rioja Reserva
Country: Spain

A lovely Rioja from a great year. A lovely deep purple colour that one expects from a Tempranillo with hints of oak and full flavours of blackberry and a bit of cassis
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2004, Bodegas, Primicia, Reserva, Rioja, Spain
Thursday, January 20th, 2011





Vintage: 2008
Type: Rioja – Tempranillo/Shiraz Blend
Country: Spain

Overall this is a decent tempranillo that tastes OK once it has been given a bit of air. Typical hints of oak and red berries, but overall nothing too special. Not bad value-for-money.
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2008, Campo Azafran, Rioja, Shiraz, Spain, Tempranillo, Tempranillo Shiraz, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Wine, Wine Review
Monday, January 10th, 2011





Vintage: 2006
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain – Rioja

Great notes of berries on the nose with a touch of caramel and vanilla. Refreshing flavours of oak and spice with lots of fruit on the palette. Very good value for money and worth a try.

Posted in ED Bronze Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2006, Baron de Ley, Privado, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo, Wine, Wine Review
Sunday, August 15th, 2010





Vintage: 2008
Type: Rioja – White
Country: Spain

This wine was presented to us as a gift and we had high expectations of this Baron de Ley sibling. You might be fooled to think that the flavour might be washed out due to its severely pale colour. Think again! This wine is well-structured and has a fresh after-taste. This would go well with a summer salad or a mildly spiced oriental stir fry.
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2008, Baron de Ley, Rioja, Spain, Wine Review
Saturday, July 17th, 2010





Vintage: 1995
Type: Rioja – Gran Reserva
Country: Spain

In spite of its age, this Rioja is still quite complex and youthful. Everything that you would expect from a Gran Reserva, though I am still partial to some others that I have tried. Full of smooth velvety berries and a great finish.
You can find the wine here: www.findwine.co.uk

Posted in ED Silver Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 1995, Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo, Valleymayor
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010





Vintage: 2007
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain

What can I say, revisiting this wine with a new vintage was a pleasure. Still strong aromas of berry and oak on the nose and excellent finish on the palette. Highly recommended, again.

Posted in ED Gold Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2007, Baron de Ley, ED Gold Award, Finca Monasterio, Rioja, Spain
Thursday, April 15th, 2010





Vintage: 2003
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain

This wine graced our table at a gastro pub in Ballam. This Grand Reserva did not disappoint. Good leathery oak and berries on the nose and a great taste of cherry and oak, tempered with the age of the wine. Recommended.

Posted in ED Bronze Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2003, Bienvenido, ED Bronze Award, Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo, Valdepenas
Thursday, March 25th, 2010





Vintage: 2002
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain

What can I say about the third type of wine that I’ve tasted from this excellent vineyard except that the best was saved for last! I enjoyed the Crianza and the Reserva, but I love the Gran Reserva. It has an intense ruby colour, fading at the edge. The nose is full of dark berry fruits and oak. The taste is full of velvety, rounded plummy fruit flavours. Highly recommended.
Oh, and it was a Gold medal winner at the The International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Posted in ED Gold Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2002, ED Gold Award, Garnacha, Gran Reserva, Lagunilla, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010





Vintage: 2007
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain

We found this wine at a burlesque club near Picadilly Circus. It was quite nice, as I expect from Riscal, with good berry flavours and oak finish. I would drink this wine again.
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2007, Rioja, Riscal, Spain, Tempranillo, Wine