Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart mixed fruit: Blackberries, black cherry, dill, olives, leather, toasted coconut, some vanilla, dried green herbs and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is in a very lovely place. Drink now through 2044. 
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart mixed fruit: Blackberries, black cherry, dill, olives, leather, toasted coconut, some vanilla, dried green herbs and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is in a very lovely place. Drink now through 2044. 
Jun 22nd, 2025
Vintage 2004 | beautiful balanced Rioja | tasted blind, clearly not everyone’s taste
Vintage 2004 | beautiful balanced Rioja | tasted blind, clearly not everyone’s taste
Oct 12th, 2022
Ordered off a wine list. Nice bright dark reddish brick color. Almost opaque. Fun nose. Notes of bing cherry, cedar, earth and a little menthol. Rich and sharp in the mouth. This needed air to come around. Still a baby.
Ordered off a wine list. Nice bright dark reddish brick color. Almost opaque. Fun nose. Notes of bing cherry, cedar, earth and a little menthol. Rich and sharp in the mouth. This needed air to come around. Still a baby.
Nov 9th, 2018
A warm berried nose with soft oak and a gameyness. On the palate, a bit of sour cherry, blackberry and a whiff of licorice. Lovely balance with a long life ahead
A warm berried nose with soft oak and a gameyness. On the palate, a bit of sour cherry, blackberry and a whiff of licorice. Lovely balance with a long life ahead
Jul 31st, 2018
Bright and concentrated. Powerful alcohol and full bodied. Got some acidity on palate
Bright and concentrated. Powerful alcohol and full bodied. Got some acidity on palate
Jun 2nd, 2018
From a mag. Magnificent structure. Smells like barolo on the nose... petroleum, acidic fruit, roses. Big tannin and acid, both tasting quite old, but this has so much life in it. After a five hour decant, this is bursting with earth, dynamic acidity, tar, and herbs. A consistently amazing wine.
From a mag. Magnificent structure. Smells like barolo on the nose... petroleum, acidic fruit, roses. Big tannin and acid, both tasting quite old, but this has so much life in it. After a five hour decant, this is bursting with earth, dynamic acidity, tar, and herbs. A consistently amazing wine.
Apr 2nd, 2018
Slightly more oak than I remembered last time. Acidity is pretty high. Need some time to open but really classic and drinking well.
Slightly more oak than I remembered last time. Acidity is pretty high. Need some time to open but really classic and drinking well.
Feb 8th, 2018
Never tire of this, really: layers of delicate & fine red fruits, integrated tannins, that bay leaf, ground tobacco leaf urgh at its base & still oodles of time to go. So fresh.
Never tire of this, really: layers of delicate & fine red fruits, integrated tannins, that bay leaf, ground tobacco leaf urgh at its base & still oodles of time to go. So fresh.
Dec 12th, 2017Classic Rioja. Dill and coconut. Very young. Bone dry. Long finish
Classic Rioja. Dill and coconut. Very young. Bone dry. Long finish
Nov 19th, 2017
The age has left the fruit leaner than a young Rioja (have to admit am used to younger more fruit forward wines), lovely dry long savoury finish with soft tannins and good complexity. Medium bodied. 38£
The age has left the fruit leaner than a young Rioja (have to admit am used to younger more fruit forward wines), lovely dry long savoury finish with soft tannins and good complexity. Medium bodied. 38£
Oct 26th, 2017
La Rioja, Spain
