Jay Kline

9.4

Served with Fisherman’s Pasta - sablefish, mussels, saffron gnocchetti pasta, fennel, fresh baguette toast. If there is one thing constant about every Lopez de Heredia Blanco that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying, it’s that they are never boring. The 2006 delivers on that with notes of dates, dried apricot, German candied nuts, marshmallows, cumin, dill and toasted coconut. Dry with fantastic acid and the texture is waxy. One of my favorite white wines on earth. Will probably live for another 20 years easy. — 16 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark cherry, brambles, fig, toasted coconut, dill, cedar, olives, leather, earth and baking spices. There seemed to be quite a bit of wood. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish was long, delicious. Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend with other Bordeaux varieties), Syrah (or a blend with other Rhone varieties), Zinfandel, or Tempranillo from France, Italy, the United States, Australia or Spain. However, the amount of coconut and dill suggested this was American oak which had me rule out France, Italy and Australia and while this had some very lovely fruit, I felt this leaned more towards its non-fruit characteristics. So, final conclusion: this is Tempranillo, from Spain, from Rioja, Reserva 2011 from a high-quality, traditional producer like Lopez de Heredia. Ohhhh so close! I love this producer. The wines have so much character. Drink now and through 2033. — 9 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Celebrating my b-day today with this beautiful Golden hay Chardonnay and sushi! Yummy!!! Nose is subtle but complex. Initially, Apple-pear and coconut dominate the senses followed by lemon zest, baked apple and sandalwood. Taste - white peach, apricot fruits and floral are soft on the palate, but the texture of a chalky oil feel coat the entire mouth and secondary notes of orange rind, lemon, green melon and minerals give this wine its long finish. A great evening of celebration and gratitude! — 2 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Jay Kline

9.3

This bottle had been cellared since release and cork was in near pristine condition. At 54 years old, it remains a deep garnet/purple and now with loads of sediment. Classic Rioja character with dried black cherry, toasted coconut, cedar, dried flowers, leather and earth. The structure remains intact and the acid is still pretty fierce. This should continue to age very well if conditions are good. — 2 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.

In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.

This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.

Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.

Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Consistent both days. The 2017 Marqués de Riscal “Reserva” pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with dark cherries, ripe bruised strawberries, baked apple, hibiscus, toasted coconut, vanilla, new leather and some baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Medium+ alcohol. A lovely pairing with my sort of modern riff on paella for a quick Tuesday evening meal. More please!

Having enjoyed vintages going back to the early 1980’s, I think Marqués de Riscal “Reserva” is one of the last few, true bargains in the wine world. They are classic in the sense that they are unmistakably Rioja and they have the ability to age for decades. It’s very hard for me to think of another wine that is widely available for under $30 that can drink this well and cellar that long. Let’s enjoy the disparity while we can! — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistently enjoyable throughout, but best after several hours of air and through Day 3. The wine pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with expressive notes of ripe and dried cherry, plums, toasted coconut, fresh dill, cedar chest, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the fruit is much more tart. The finish is long and tangy. A textbook example of old-school Rioja. Lovely. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 3 months ago

Prena

10

2018, west slope more earthy look for coconut flavor burnt flakes. American oak is giving the flavor of coconut — 9 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Christmas pairing with pistachio crusted rack of lamb. Near perfect. Lots to be thankful for.

This Geyserville is drinking great. Blackberry jam, sandalwood, coconut. An awesome ripe accompaniment to the gamey lamb. — a year ago

John Bratincevic

9.0

Pop-and-pour through an aerator. Nose: burned orange. Fresh turned soil. Cranberry. Rose (very subdued). A little more anonymous than I had hoped, but well made - “elegant.” Taste: red fruits (ripe pomegranate), dry tobacco, aromatic wood. Coconut. Bay leaf. Chalk and clay. 90-91. EDIT: A LOT of raspberry comes out with air. Also, a bit of pineapple (?). Point being: tart fruit. — 3 years ago