142. Bodegas Marques del Puerto, Rioja Reserva, 1996

€9.10; 12.5%

Bought in Spain, using my new copy of the Guia Penin – a cross between the detail of the Guide Hachette des Vins for French wine, and Parker’s 100-point scoring system.

By 2004, this ’96 Reserva was – I would guess – in “early maturity”, due to its noticeable but not harsh tannin and significant acidity holding structure. Quite dark red, with hint of brick edging. Aromas of vanilla, toast / mocha and underlying blackcurrant jam. Smooth-but-dry vanilla’d fruit flavours with medium length. Not bad overall.

2^nd drinking suggests very sharp red fruit aromas (with astringent vanilla – turpentine?? Aromas). Medium-bodied overall.