Ramon Bilbao Gran Reserva 2004, Rioja, Spain

Until this year, I had never enjoyed any of Ramon Bilbao wines. After trying their Tempranillo Edition Limitada 2007 I thought I would taste their Gran Reserva 2004. This wine has a complex  sensuous bouquet of wild berries, stewed fruit, Asian spices, cedar and leather. On the palate this wine is medium to full bodied (with alcohol at 13.5%) with elegant smooth texture, fresh acidity and silky tannins. This Gran Reserva finish is very smooth, spicy and savoury. This wine is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and 5% Grenache, aged 30 months in American oak casks. Once bottled it is further aged 36 months at the vineyards underground facility before release. This is a very aromatic and elegant, mature and sophisticated wine, ready to enjoy on it's own or pretty much any food. I paired this wine with roast chicken with a bacon and mushroom sauce and it was just perfect. Would definitely make a nice Christmas gift. Strongly recommended. Score 91 Points.  

This wine was purchased December 10, 2011 LCBO New Release at $29.95.

Bodegas Ramon Bilbao Edition Limitada 2007, Rioja, Spain

This Rioja is 100% Tempranillo grape which hs spent 14 months in new French and American oak barrels,followed by a year in the bottle before release. The nose is classic Rioja with fresh red berry fruit, vanilla, smoke and spices. The mouthfeel is very elegant and smooth, with ripe tannins, high acidity with cherry flavours, and some minerals. The finish is medium length, and very pleasant. A medium bodied wine which would be easy to match with pretty much any food including BBQ chicken or pork, paired with a Coq au Vin it would be fantastic.

This wine was purchased at the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival, April 2001 at $ 28.00