Tempranillo
926. Vega Sicilia, Alión Ribera del Duero, 2011
A Spain-themed MW blind practice courtesy of Peter McCombie had this little beauty in the reds. I might have been a long way off …
922. Lopez de Heredia-Viña Tondonia, Viña Tondonia Rioja Gran Reserva, 1994
The current release of the Gran Reserva, and it showed the top quality both of the 1994 vintage, and Tondonia. As José-Luis advised, this …
896. Torre de Oña, Rioja Reserva, 2008
Dropped into a tempranillo line-up as an example of wine aged in Hungarian oak. La Rioja Alta use Hungarian for this comparatively modern-style Rioja, …
894. Bodegas Roda, Roda I Rioja Reserva, 1992
Found this in The Vineyard a couple of years back – Roda’s first vintage, so a bit of history. An inauspicious vintage, which perhaps …
856. CVNE, Imperial Rioja, 1973
Found in 28-50, and… well… what the hell! Always a gamble, but this 41 year old bottle, though fully mature, had not hollowed out, …
828. Finca Allende, Aurus Rioja, 1996
The first vintage of Finca Allende’s top wine, I think? Ready to drink now. Elegant. Perhaps not completely top drawer, but certainly a level …
810. CVNE, Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva, 2004
The exemplar Gran Reserva, and just that: a ripe, deep vintage giving black fruit character, with a careful coating of American oak primarily. Fine …
763. Bodegas Riojanas, Viña Albina Reserva, 1975
Saw this in The Sampler and thought why not? In the end, this is past its best – hollowing out and leaving some brisk …
749. Lopez de Heredia-Viña Tondonia, Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva, 2001
Fascinating way to start MW study group studies, blind. A much more satisfying old-school Rioja than the 1991 Bosconia. Pale garnet, with a tawny …
747. Bodegas Domecq de Jarauta, Viña Marro Rioja Reserva, 2007
A second vintage of this, from a similar source. And again, a good example of a £10-15, modern-style, attractive Reserva Rioja. A touch jammy, …