Klein Constantia: stellar whites, sweet and dry 
Marqués de Riscal: Gehry hotel outshining solid Rioja and Rueda 
La Rioja Alta: benchmark classical Riojas especially top flight Gran Reservas 
Marqués de Murrieta: Rioja aristocracy built around Castillo Ygay 
CVNE: Combining volume and classical quality 
Contino: Château-style Rioja and Graciano pioneers 
€12.56; 13%
Recommended to me by the guy in The Corkscrew near Grafton Street, as something different. Opened up after a day, so I’d say needs decanting. Overall pretty good show of how Portugal’s still, unfortified wines are developing. Medium density ruby-garnet core with a narrow garnet rim. Plummy fruit core wrapped in toffee, coffee and paprika-type warm spice aromas, opening to some leather. Juicy, sweet plum fruit on entry with grippy tannin and notable acidity. Good length finish with cocoa & coffee notes. Would probably develop 2-3 more years.
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