Alta Baliza

Finca Valpiedra

Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2001

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2001 Reserva pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and loads of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly dried, desiccated fruit: cherries, blackberries, leather, cocoa, earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, integrated tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose plus the addition of an umami note that’s quite attractive. The finish is medium+ and slightly savory. Drink now. — 11 days ago

Jan, Tom and 8 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Viña Ardanza Reserva Selección Especial Tempranillo Blend 2017

Maria a alexNdra lorenzo pedro fer caio — 24 days ago

Iwan, Jan and 1 other liked this

Bodega Catena Zapata

Angelica Zapata Alta Malbec

J. Rached - Abr/2024
Álcool 13,7%
— 20 days ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Blanco Malvasia Viura 2012

Zach D
9.5

A unique wine. Vibrant golden hue, reductive aroma combined with a variety of ripe orchard fruits, saline breeze, pineapple, wet stone. Palate with high acidity, a lingering tannic grip, stony minerality, apple, pear, fresh almonds. I drink the current vintage (which happens to be 2012 this year) with my wife once per year, and have for the last 5 years. Nostalgic. — a day ago

Ira and Ron liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Sounds really cool!
Zach D

Zach D

@Ron R I would try it at least once; not a profile that will resonate with everyone, but super classic and old school. Offers a unique experience; it is a wine that if blinded to color, could be mistaken for a red wine

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2017

2017 vintage. Extremely difficult to get past the coconut/pickles nose with the aggressive oak. Flavors better than scents currently. Could use an hour or two in a decanter or 7-8 years in the bottle to minimize said oak. Medium body. Will eventually lead the group on an epic hike but not in the next few years. 03.05.25. — 20 days ago

Jan, Ruud and 13 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 1996

No one chooses to have these kinds of bottles, the bottles themselves choose you. From the first whiff, you can smell the age; dried cherries, weathered leather, a trace of cigar box, and a hint of vanilla that lingers like memories of wilder days. On the palate, the wine unfolds slowly, each layer revealing the finesse of a life lived with grit and grace. The tannins, softened with age yet carrying a hint of defiance. — 18 days ago

Peter, Jose and 11 others liked this
Paul K

Paul K

🤯 jealous of the wine and your trip! Hopefully you’re staying through Semana Santa and visiting southern Spain? Nothing like watching the parades with great sherry and smelling the spring orange blossoms.
Ericsson

Ericsson

Hey Paul. Great wine. Back home now. But yes can’t wait to go back.

Bodega Catena Zapata

Catena Alta Historic Rows Chardonnay 2022

Nice complex with tones straw, honey, cantaloupe apple. — 13 days ago

Bodegas Ramón Bilbao

Crianza Rioja Tempranillo 2015

I liked this quite a bit. Great value. Lots of wood. — a month ago

Serge liked this