Marked as unfiltered with no indication of aging (ie. Reserva, Crianza etc), this Joven level wine is 6 years old and showing dep ruby in the glass with pretty slow moving legs (14% ABV).  The nose is a bit tart smelling with nice red fruit aromas of raspberry, red plum, hints of vanilla, purple licorice and perhaps some menthol.  Surprisingly, no tertiary aromas yet.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins. The acid is making my jaw ache.  It is medium bodied with flavors of sour cherry, black raspberry, plum, feint vanilla and a bit of menthol.  The finish is medium in length and tart.  The tannins fade pretty fast on this one, leaving it a bit unbalanced by the acidity and thinning fruit.  It runs $15 nowadays and gets 90 points from me with a drink by 2024 window.  4 stars for this Tempranillo that I am pairing with grilled Chicken and plantains.  Salut….’

Deep ruby colored this Tempranillo has medium (-) intensity aromas of baked plums, earth, blackberry pie, leather, baking spice and bramble.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins.  The body is full and I get the expected dry earth, bramble, blackberry and spice flavors- it’s nearly textbook Rioja minus a bit of intensity and a touch more acidity.  They back end has a charred cedar note and it finishes a bit astringent on the gums.  It’s a serviceable wine that runs $15 and gets 88 points from moi- 4 stars to drink by 2026.  Salut….

Moxie and I are moving house next week so we are raiding the freezer and drinking all the un-tried wines.  Tonight is grilled Hangar steak and this Tempranillo from Spain.  Deep garnet colored, it shows its age and it’s 14.5% ABV with some thick legs in the glass.  The nose is beautiful aged Rioja.  Leather, tobacco, dried blackberry, stewed black plum, dark chocolate, game and prune.  The palate is dry and tart with fine grained, well integrated tannins.  Full bodied, this wine coats my mouth with flavors of dried and stewed black fruits, charred oak and dried, dusty bramble.  The leather and tobacco are still evident as is some red fruit; stewed strawberry?  The finish is medium in length and the fine tannins are tickling the roof of my mouth.  I like this wine but feel it is at peak if not slightly past, which is quite young for a Reserva.   92 points for this $30 bottle makes it a 5 star effort, drink till 2025.  Salut….

I have drunk gallons of this wine, from several vintages.  Always a great experience, especially at $27 per bottle.  This is the youngest version I have tried thus far and it looks promising with deep ruby/purple shades in the glass and really thick, slow moving legs on the rim giving away the 14.5% ABV.  Intense aromas of black and red fruit, leather, dust, coconut, vanilla, coffee bean-stunning and fresh.  The palate is dry with rich flavors of blackberry, cassis, red raspberry, leather, tobacco, vanilla, coffee and bramble.  Rioja wines are very rustic IMO.  I love that dusty, earthy character which this one delivers.  The acidity is quite high and the tannins are integrated and of medium intensity.  The body is full for sure and the finish is medium in length.  Another delicious wine that gets 93 points from me and 5 stars.  This Tempranillo will last a while in cellar and drink beautifully until 2030 at the earliest.  I would pair it with tapas, grilled beef or lamb and definitely a peppercorn steak.  Salut….

Medium garnet colored, this Tempranillo has trademark aromas of leather, earthy dust, ripe blackberry, rich plum, vanilla, black cherry jam and charred wood.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and grippy tannins that coat my mouth.  The fruit is ripe and the wine is full bodied.  Black fruit flavors wrapped in a cloak of oak nuance with some signs of tertiary development make for a delicious wine.  I paid $19 for this stunning 92 pointer that gets 5 stars.  I would pair it with grilled Hangar steak and sweet potato fries.  I think this balanced and structured wine will drink well until 2030 at the least.  Salut….

Deep ruby, starting to turn amber- this 11 year old Tempranillo is beginning to show some age.  On the nose I get classic Rioja: dusty earth, bramble, ripe blackberries, black currants, plums, leather and loads of oak influence.  Vanilla, coconut and charred wood notes are well ingrained.  On the palate it is dry and smooth.  Very integrated tannins and great acidity set the framework up to allow dark fruit, musty and earthy flavors as well as oak nuance to interplay.  Medium (+) bodied this delight has a medium (-) finish.  This is not a bold and big wine, it is more of a seductive and silky drop that appeals to those who enjoy subtlety over brawn.  I like it and would sip it over tapas.  I think it is at peak and will drink nicely until 2028.  It gets 92 points from me and at $40 it gets 5 stars.  Salut….