Conde de Valdemar 'Finca Alto Cantabria’ 2016, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Viura 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

🧩 Three months in new French oak

🔹 Attractive nose with aromas of peaches, apricots, orange peel, vanilla and light floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful with a slightly creamy texture and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length, dry with a salty tropical fruit flavours.

🔸 What a shame that I don’t indulge in white Rioja more often. White Rioja may not be as well known as it’s red sibling and as a result, it often represents a better value. This is a delicious food wine which paired beautifully with a slightly spicy Kung Pao chicken. Hard to resist at this price and strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends.

Bodegas Urbina Reserva Especial 2006, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 95%
🍇 Mazuelo, Garnacha, Graciano 5%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 Two years in barrels (75% American oak and 25% French oak) follow by seven years in bottle before release.

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Gorgeous, sensuous nose with aromas of blueberries, plums, mushrooms, leather, dried herbs, vanilla and light barnyard notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied smooth texture, flavourful with soft tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with earthy and savoury notes lingering.

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Wow! How can you get a delicious and mature wine like this for $40. If you would like to experience a mature wine without the high price point? I recommend that you start with a classic Rioja like this one. Urbina released this wine when they were confident it was ready to drink. It is definitely ready to enjoy now, I don’t see any reason for additional time in bottle. Endless pairing opportunities or delicious on it’s own. Thank you Urbina 🙏 It’s a delicious wine experience. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Purchased at the LCBO in Toronto last December.

Marqués de Riscal Gran Reserva 2012, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 78%
🍇 Graciano & Mazuelo  22%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Sensuous bouquet with aromas of cherries, plums, dried figs, Asian spices, leather, vanilla and toasty notes. On the mouthfeel medium-full bodied, beautiful texture, flavourful with fine grainy tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is long, smooth with plenty of exotic flavours.

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Another Spanish beauty! What I truly appreciate, is how well integrated the oak is at this stage and how delicious and elegant the mouthfeel is. I have enjoyed a few Gran Reserva lately and this is definitely the smoothest and most exotic. Strongly recommended my wine friends. Cheers 🍷

CVNE Imperial Rioja Gran Reserva 2010, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 85%
🍇 Graciano 10%
🍇 Mazuelo 5%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 94 Points

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Intoxicating, sensuous nose with aromas of plums, berry fruit, dried figs, tobacco leaves, vanilla, old church wood and balsamic notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, elegant texture, silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of plums, cherries and exotic spices.

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I have just been named the Spanish wine Ambassador here in Canada 🙂 Jokes asides, second Spanish wine in a row and what a treat this Rioja is. It’s incredible that you could get such an elegant, mature wine like this for $56 @lasaq  An incredible value and drinking beautifully right now. This 2010 Rioja vintage is a gift that keeps on giving. What a treat 👌 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Bodegas Beronia Reserva 2014, D.O.Ca. Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 95%
🍇 Graciano 4%
🍇 Mazuelo 1%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score  90 Points

🧩 This wine spent 20 months in a combination of French and American oak. Quite literally, the barrels created by Beronia long time winemaker Matias Calleja are a mix of barrels made from American staves and French tops.

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An elegant, attractive nose with aromas of blackberries, plums, spices, vanilla and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, soft fruit, smooth tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of plums, spices and chocolate covered blueberries.

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A beautiful Rioja with soft texture, flavourful with terrific oak integration. A crowd pleasing, easy drinking wine with lots of appeals. Great value, definitely one of those case worthy purchases. Strongly recommended 👌Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Hacienda López de Haro Gran Reserva 2010, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 90%
🍇 Graciano 10%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 30 months in French and American oak barrels than 20 months in bottle before release

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Sensuous nose with aromas of cherries, plums, soft leather, vanilla, herbal notes and earthy undertones. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, sweet ripe fruit covering the palate, silky tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of spicy blueberry/plum fruit lingering.

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Another gorgeous wine from the 2010 Rioja vintage, drinking beautifully right now. A Gran Reserva with sensuous aromatics, harmonious texture and great flavours. Definitely a great deal of appeal and a fantastic value. Strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Wine acquisition from the Liquor Board of Ontario (LCBO)

What a joy to be returning to the LCBO. Did you know that after Costco, the LCBO is the second largest purchaser of wine and spirits in the world? This kind of leverage can make for ideal pricing. I am here to find my personal favourite wines and explore products recommended by their very knowledgeable staff. I was lucky to run into @torontovino  at the Queens Quay LCBO location. I had already nabbed the Muga Selección Especial (a favourite 🙂) but Victor helped me select a few more beauties to bring home. Thank you.  🙏 It was great chatting with you.

🍇 from Spain 🇪🇸
-Muga Selección Especial 2014
-Urbina Rioja Gran Reserva 2006

🍇 from France 🇫🇷
-François Villard Jouvet Cornas 2016

🍇 from Italy
-Caparzo La Casa Brunello di Montalcino 2013

Pretty happy with the new addition to the family 😊 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Bodegas Cepa 21 Hito 2016, Ribera Del Duero, Spain 🇪🇸

Bodegas Cepa 21 Hito 2016, Ribera Del Duero, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Lovely nose with aromas of black cherrie, blackberries, plums, leather, cloves, vanilla and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, seductive texture, flavourful, fine grainy tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium-long with flavours of black fruit, peppery, earthy flavours all wrapped up in fine tannins.

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This wine ticks all the boxes for me, from it’s beautiful aromatics, superb texture and it’s flavourful and smooth finish. A powerful but elegant Tempranillo, with many pairing possibilities but also enjoyed on it’s own. Even better on the second night, which tells me it’s should keep improving over the next few years. Strongly recommended 👌 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Herederos del Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2014, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 90%
🍇 Graciano 7%
🍇 Mazuelo 3%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

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Sensuous nose with aromas of blackberries, dark plums, dried figs, spicy, oak and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, smooth and elegant texture, grainy tannins and fresh acidity.The finish is medium-long, smooth with flavourful toasty oak and earthy flavours.

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Few meals makes me more happy than a charcuterie and cheese platter paired with a classic Spanish Rioja. With an strong umami flavoured meal like this platter it’s hard for me to think of any other wine that would work this well. As for this Rioja Reserva from Marqués de Riscal, a Classic Rioja with plenty of well integrated oak at this stage, beautiful texture, seductive mouthfeel and very flavourful. Definitely a great value.

I would especially like to mention my favourite butcher shop, here in Victoria @farmandfieldbutchers. It’s always a great shopping experience, beautiful layout, clean store, friendly and helpful staff and beautiful appetizing meat counter. Their selection of cured meat is top notch. For this platter;

-Bison and elk salami
-Duck noisette salami
-Triple fennel ale salami and
-Two rivers spicy Coppa

All of them very delicious. Cheers my wine friends 🍷🙂

Marqués de Murrieta Limited Edition Gran Reserva 2011, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

Marqués de Murrieta Limited Edition Gran Reserva 2011, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸 

🍇 Tempranillo 91%

🍇 Mazuelo 4%

🍇 Graciano 3%

🍇 Garnacha 2%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 94%

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Exquisite nose with aromas of wild berries, plums, dried figs, exotic wood spices, leather and a hint of tobacco. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, very flavourful, multi layered texture, grainy tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long with layered dark fruit, chocolate and wood spices all wrapped up in fine tannins. 

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It would be difficult to find a better value, than this aged Rioja. Definitely a stunning, classic Rioja from Marqués de Murrieta, with it’s sensuous aromatics, multi layered texture and long flavourful finish. An exceptional addition to your cellar, which should keep improving over the next decade. Enjoyable now after being decanted for a few hours. A remarkable wine 👌😋 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Carlos Serres Reserva 2012, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 90%
🍇 Graciano 10%

🧐 Alcool 14%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Sensuous nose with aromas of wild berries, cherries, plums, vanilla, leather and smoke undertone. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, smooth texture, flavourful with silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium-long with excellent depth of flavours.

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What a great find at the European Vine Selections store, in Seattle, last month. I reviewed a few Reserva lately, where I said that it would keep improving over the next few years. This wine is what I was talking about, seven years old and it’s in a beautiful place right now. Incredible aromatics with all elements of this wine well integrated and a flavourful, elegant finish. At $16 US dollars for a mature wine like this one, the quality/price ratio is well in your favour. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Bodegas Muriel Reserva 2014, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

🧩 24 months in French & American oak than a further 2 years in bottle before re

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This Rioja opens up with a rustic bouquet of sour cherry/plum fruit, dried figs, cedar, leather, incense and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, robust texture, grainy tannins and low acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of dark fruits, bitter chocolate, earthy and peppery notes lingering.

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I have been enjoying Muriel’s wines for more than a decade now. This is a beautiful wine which should keep improving with a further 2-3 years in bottle, that should soften up it’s oak dominance. This is the kind of great value, crowd pleasing wine that could be a three bottle purchase, to enjoy as it developes over the next few years. How about a charcuterie platter with dried fruits and nuts?  Strongly recommended 👌😋 Cheers my wine friends

CVNE Cune Reserva 2014, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 85%
🍇 Graciano, Garnacha & Mazuelo 15%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

🧩 18 months in French and American oak with racking every six months. The final wine spent an additional 12 months in bottle before being released.

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Sensuous bouquet with aromas of cherries, plums, exotic spices, underbrush, exotic spices and light vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, tasty smooth texture, silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length, dry, sweet and sour fruit and a beautiful savoury edge.

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This wine was drinking well but should improve with a further 2-3 years in bottle. The best is yet to come. Another delicious and tasty Spanish Rioja and strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

 

Finca Villacreces Pruno 2011, DO Ribera del Duero, Spain

This wine is made mostly with Tempranillo with 90% and the remaining 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, maturation in three year old French oak barrels for 12 months and alcohol coming in at 14%.

This wine opened up with aromas of black cherry, dark plums, exotic spices, coffee grinds, toasty oak and a hint of tobacco. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry with concentrated robust flavours, low acidity and firm but not overbearing tannins. Very good length on the finish with concentrated flavours and notes of damp earth and leather lingering. This is a rich, intense well structured Tempranillo blend which should acquire some elegance if given time in bottle (2-5 years). Great potential, strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased September 28, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (312140) at $19.95

Also available at the SAQ (11881940) at $21.45

Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2010, Rioja, Spain

75% of this Rioja is made with Grenache, and in a supporting role Tempranillo at 20% and Mazuelo at 5%, maturation in mostly French oak (90%) with the remaining 10% American oak and alcohol comes in at 14%.

Ruby red in the glass with a tings of violet this wine opened up with aromas of red berry fruit, plums, leather, spices and light cedar and vanilla. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with spicy bright flavors, lively acidity and well integrated fine tannins. Good energy and length on the finish with flavors of sweet and tangy berry fruit lingering. Another great wine from Alvaro Palacios, showing lots of charm and personality. I can almost describe this as a spicy Pinot Noir, strongly recommended score 89 points.

Purchased September 14, 2013 at the SAQ (10556993) at $19.65    

Domeco De Jarauta Lar De Sotomayor Vendimia Seleccionada 2010, Doc Rioja, Spain

This wine is made with mostly Tempranillo at 90% of the blend, with Mazuelo and Graciano in a supporting role at 5% each, aged in new and second year old French oak for 16 months and alcohol comes in at 14%.

This wine opened up with aromas of field berries, pomegranate, plum, baking spices and light floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with a soft, smooth texture, lively acidity and fine grained tannins. Medium length on the finish with a sweet and tart "tug of war" lingering. This is a youthful Tempranillo blend, not especially concentrated but the flavors are nice. Best served with food, score 88 points.

Purchased September 14, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (336099) at $17.95

Pinyolet Garnacha 2011, DO Montsant, Spain

This wine is 100% dry farmed and organically grown Garnacha (Grenache) from 50 (plus) year old vines, aged completely in stainless steel on its lees for 6 months (no oak barrels) and alcohol comes in at 14%. 

This wine opened up with ripe aromas of strawberry-raspberry fruit, soft leather, herbs and spices with a stony minerality notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, spicy and very flavourful with fresh acidity and silky tannins. This Grenache has a juicy fruit driven finish with loads of energy and length. A great summer wine, but I can’t emphasize enough that this wine is better served slightly chilled (around 16 to 17 °C). As it was warming up it almost felt like a different wine, with the ripe fruit character of this Grenache turning slightly tart. Overall a charming and very interesting wine, score 89 points.  

Purchased July 6, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (271791) at $17.95

Marqués De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva 2006, DOCa Rioja, Spain

This wine is a blend of mostly Tempranillo, with 88%, 7% Mazuelo, 3% Garnacha (Grenache) and 2% Graciano, ageing took place in 225 litre American oak barrels for 18 months followed by 24 months in bottles before being released. Finally, alcohol comes in at 14%.

An intriguing and mature bouquet on this Rioja, with aromas of wild berries, plums, dried strawberry, Moroccan spices, sandalwood, floral and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with bright flavours, smooth texture, great acidity and fine grainy tannins. This wines finish is long, with great energy, flavourful, with a little bit of alcohol heat lingering. For me, this wine hits all the right notes, starting with a very sensuous bouquet, beautiful, well structured mouthfeel and a long flavourful, smooth and elegant finish. Drinking well now but should improve with a further 2-3 years in bottle. The quality/price ratio is well in your favour, score 92 points.

Purchased June 22, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (209148) at $24.95

La Rioja Alta S.A. Grand Reserva 904 Cosecha 2001, Rioja, Spain

This wine is made with mostly Tempranillo at 90%, from vines over 40 years old. 10% is Graciano, with maturation taking place in 4 year old American oak barrels, then aged for 4 years. With an additional 6 1/2 years aging in bottle at the vineyard, the alcohol comes in at 12.5%.

This is another mature Spanish beauty, with aromas of sweet wild berries, sour cherry-plum, dried figs, leather, gentle wood spices and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, light-medium bodied, silky smooth texture with delicate flavours, more spices than fruit at this stage, balanced acidity and fine tannins. A medium length on the finish with flavours of plum, exotic spices and fine silky tannins lingering, this 2001 Spanish vintage is the gift that keeps on giving, and this Grand Reserva is a good example of a traditional elegant and refined style of Tempranillo. I prefer this winery, Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial from the same vintage which I enjoyed last February; it had a little more structure. But this is still a gorgeous wine, score 91 points.

Purchased May 11, 2013 at Crush Wine & Spirits in New York City for $41.95

Ateca Atteca 2010, Aragon, Calatayud, Spain

This wine is 100% Garnacha (Grenache) from 85 to 125 years old vines with maturation in French oak for 10 months and alcohol coming in at 15%.

Beautiful deep ruby in color, this wine opened up with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, wild strawberry, cedar, vanilla and spicy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with ripe fruit flavours and spicy, fresh acidity and silky tannins. Loads of energy, length and bright spicy flavours on the finish. This very flavourful and well made Grenache hits all the right notes for me, just as enjoyable has I remember it from the Vancouver Wine Show, absolutely delicious and a superb value, score 92 points.


Purchased March 1, 2013 at the Vancouver Wine Show for $26.99