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.
Vintage: 2008
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain – Castilla-La Mancha
This wine is a classic Spanish Tempranillo. The colour of the wine is dark red with no fading on the edges. On the nose there is vanilla. There are hints of oak on the pallet and a lot of blackcurrant and red berries.
Overall this wine is easy to drink and quite inexpensive. Good value for money.
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.
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.
Vintage: Non-Vintage
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain
Decent red from Spain. Light on the tongue with nice flavours of berries. Doesn’t have the complexity of a proper Rioja, but a nice bottle that is quite decent value for money.
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
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.
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.
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.
Vintage: 1999
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain
This Rioja was quite nice. Dark berry flavours and oak nose. It has aged quite well and is drinking nicely at the moment. If you see this on a wine list, do not fear to order it.