Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Reserva 2002 The nose shows some of the herbaceousness that can be found with Tempranillo along with vanilla and cherries dabbed with brown sugar and baked in a pie.
The mouth is bright with cherries and structure, youthful. Yet at the same time there is the complexity of age, fruit that is [...]

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Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Crianza 2005 Unfortunately this has a little cork taint which is suppressing the nose and adding uncharacteristic astringency on the palate. The fruit is a high proportion of Tempranillo along with Garnacha and Graciano. The wine is aged in French and US oak. 13% $10.99 at Bottle Barn Caceres

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Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Reserva 2001 The nose smells of stewed cherries, evolving nicely, developing complexity. In the mouth, the characteristic acidity is on display, on a plate of suppleness, with leather, olive and cherries – very nice. The fruit is a high proportion of old vine 85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha and Graciano. The wine [...]

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Bodegas Palacios Remondo, Rioja DOC, La Vendimia 2007 The nose offers minty green character with liquer-like fruit. In the mouth it is quite fruity, a little chewy with a light body and a lingering creaminess. The grapes are approximately Tempranillo and Garnacha. Bottled in Alfaro 13.5% $11.59 at Bottle Barn

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Muga, Rioja DOC, Reserva, Seleccion Especial 2004 There are sweet brown spices, cherry and light earthiness in the nose. The mouth shows structure, with plenty of tannin and acidity, filled out by the cherry fruit to make this a keeper in the cellar – very long and delightful. The grapes are 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha [...]

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Bodegas Palacios Remondo, Rioja DOC, Crianza, La Montesa 2005 In the nose there are brown spices and a sense of the forest floor while the mouth is supple and fruity, with the acidity I associate with the wines of this region – delicious. The  grapes are approximately 45% Tempranillo, 40% Garnacha and 15% Graciano and [...]

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Artadi Vinedos & Vinos, Rioja DOC Vinas de Gain 2005 The wine is a bit reductive and needs some air. With a bit of airing, there is a green spice/herbal character in the nose while the fruit is still buried in the background. Give it 20 minutes and the black currents start to emerge. In [...]

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Muga, Rioja, Reserva DOC 2005 The nose combines vanilla, smokiness and ash with cranberries and just the right amount of horse blanket and leather. In the mouth, the tannins make a ripe blanket on top of the tart cherry fruit – the acidity makes this perfect to consider with the next leg of lamb. 70% [...]

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Martin Codax, Rioja DOC, ERGO, Tempranillo 2006 The Martin Codax brand has developed a solid reputation on in the northwester portion of the country in Galicia. With this wine from the Rioja, the brand is throwing its equity behind Spain’s most recognized wine region. The smell is a pretty combo of cedar and vanilla. The [...]

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Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Reserva DOC 2000 The house style is soft and oaky with an appropriate acidic frame. The 2000 at this stage, 8 years on smells delightful; there’s sweet vanilla, earth and some stewed, evolving fruit and veg. The acid shows nicely, the tannins are subtle and there are long flavors of cocoa [...]

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