Archive for March, 2008

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Torre Muga Reserva - Bodegas Muga

Monday, March 31st, 2008

torre-muga-reserva.jpg

Gabriella

  • 2005 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga (Reserva) - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/27/2008)
    75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and 10% Graciano, Clay/Calcareous and Alluvial. This wine is aged for 6 months in wooden vats, 18 months in new French oak barrels and at least 12 months in bottle. Dark, almost black, in color with streaks of midnight blue. Notes of black cherry, dark bitter chocolate and freshly ground coffee with a slight veil of vanilla that appears right at the end bouquet, is intoxicating. Viscous and dense in the mouth, with firm tannins, big acidity and lots of oak, it’s immediately clear that this wine needs amble time to open and develop. Rich, spicy on the palate, while bursting with dark cherry and charcoal flavors, make sure you decant this well before you intend to drink it. This is a big wine that needs a lot of patience to experience its full glory! 4/5

    • Ryan

  • 2005 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga (Reserva) - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/14/2008)
    Dark as night with a nose that is full of chocolate, black cherry, and coffee flavors. Thick and oaky on the palate with thick dense tannins and cherry flavors. At first pour too much but with 3 days of bottle age with cork in top, this wine really developed nicely softening up considerably and beginning to show a complexity that warmed me up to this wine in the long run. 4/5

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    Viña Lanciano Reserva - Bodegas LAN

    Monday, March 31st, 2008

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    Gabriella

  • 2001 Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva Viña Lanciano - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/29/2008)
    Dark and rich burgundy red in color with a clean cassis and cream nose laced with the occasional cinnamon, black spice and chocolate note. This wine screams modern in comparison with reserved cherry flavors in the mouth. Light in body, dry with good acidity, and firm, fine tannins. Nice, overall wine, that may need some time to express its full potential. Curious if there is some complexity hiding under here that just needs some cellaring to come out. 3.5/5

    • Ryan

  • 2001 Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva Viña Lanciano - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/29/2008)
    Deep meaty red color to this wine. The nose is kirsch, cassis, fat chocolate notes, and presents itself as very modern. The wine is full in the mouth with a medium acidity and and firm fine tannins. Rich cherry flavors, and big fruit, are unyielding as this wine will require a bit of time to open. A more dense Rioja, with sublty that has yet to show itself. I think this wine will be nice with a few more years in bottle, finally revealing the hidden spices that lie out at the edges. Fully dry and with a medium long finish. 3.5/5

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    Reserva - Bodegas LAN

    Monday, March 31st, 2008

    rioja-lan-reserva.png

    Gabriella

  • 2001 Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/29/2008)
    Gorgeous, brilliant blood red in color with a dark, ruby core. On the nose, this is a big, aromatic showing mint, black licorice and black cherry under a blanket of chocolate and tobacco. Lush and round in the mouth with big firm tannins, good acidity and great structure. Nice, lingering bright, red berry finish followed by quick rush of slate and menthol. I really like the elegance and sensuality of this wine. 4/5

    • Ryan

  • 2001 Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/29/2008)
    Dark purplish red color to this wine. THe nose on this is very herbal with green notes, and pencil lead. Underneath this layer of greenish sits a nice rich red fruit layer, that show’s touches of black pepper and mature oak. In the mouth this is a fat wine, with richness and modern stylings. Rich meaty cherry flavors are mingled with green herbs, and some pencil lead notes. Big but fine tannin structure, lends body to this wine, and while it does show more modern leanings the nice spicy underbelly balances it out nicely Good wine that will age. 3.5/5

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    Crianza - Bodegas LAN

    Monday, March 31st, 2008

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    Gabriella

  • 2004 Bodegas LAN Rioja Crianza - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/29/2008)
    Vibrant red with a hazy light burgundy in color, showing pure, unadulterated candy cherry nose. In the mouth, the wine is very clean, with a well balanced acidity and firm, fine tannins that least to a short, but vibrant finish of again, 100% cherry. Simple and extremely fresh, I can see this wine being drunk with some nice simple brie or grilled white fish. 3/5

    • Ryan

  • 2004 Bodegas LAN Rioja Crianza - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/29/2008)
    Nice cherry red color to this with a nose that matches. Vanilla hints are wrapped around light spices, and while simple it is quite pretty. Soft and gentle in the mouth with a lushness, that is welcoming to the palate. Super fine, and very firm tannins coat the tongue with a rich and fresh acidity. Cherry, bing, and light vanilla spice, mingle on this simple but very enoyable wine. 3.5/5

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    Arranz - Argote

    Thursday, March 27th, 2008

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    Address: C/ Mayor Alta nº 43 26370 Navarrete - La Rioja
    Phone:+34 699 04 60 43
    bodega@vinoarar.com
    www.vinoarar.com

    Walking up the narrow medieval streets of Navarrete, it’s impossible to imagine a winery tucked into the narrow stone buildings, but alas, Carlos Jorge Arranz and Daniel Fernández M. - Argote have successfully created the impossible. Christening the bodega after the union of their last names, both Carlos and Daniel have worked tirelessly over the past six years to create both a winery and wine that they be take pride in. “I can offer a critical wine decision, but I can’t give a commercial decision,” says Carlos, the chosen winemaker of the duo. “However, I do use my wife’s nose for extra guidance, because females tend to have a special ability to pick out the finest aromas.” Their one and only wine, ARAR (an even shorter version of their two names), is a blend of all four traditional Rioja varieties that have been taken from their 70-90 year old family vines. Currently producing approximately 4,500 bottles a year, aged for 14 months in French oak barrels derived from various forests and barrel makers. This is what we term a “true family business”!

    Wines Produced: Arar Crianza

    More Articles on Bodegas y Viñedos Arranz - Argote:

    What is the Flavor of Rioja?
    More Tales from La Rioja

    Posted in Bodega Profile | No Comments »

    Seleccion Especial - Bodegas Muga

    Thursday, March 27th, 2008

    odegas Muga Seleccion Especial

    Gabriella

  • 2003 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva Selección Especial - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (3/27/2008)
    70 % Tempranillo, 20 % Garnacha, 10 % Mazuelo y Graciano, Clay-Calcareous and Alluvial. This wine is aged for 6 months in wooden vats, 30 months in oak barrels and at least 12 months in bottle. Medium cherry in color with a dark cranberry hue, showing a rich dark red berry nose with the occasional black pepper and coffee adding to the mix. In the mouth, the wine is round and big with fine tannins and bright acidity that lead to a bold dark cherry finish. 4/5

    • Ryan

  • 2003 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva Selección Especial - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (3/14/2008)
    Gorgeous color with a darkness to the core. Toasted notes of coffee, with soy, cherry and a light dusty cobweb quality. Fine thick tannins with a big structure, that frames cherry and chocolate flavors. 3.5/5

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    Ysios

    Thursday, March 27th, 2008

    Bodegas Ysios
    Address: Camino de la Hoya, 01300 Laguardia, Alava
    Telephone: 945 600 640
    ysios@byb.es
    www.domecqbodegas.com/ysios/

    Situated in the heart of Rioja Alvesa, with mountains looming over the space age aluminum roof shaped to mimic the winds upon the vineyards, it is an incredible site to experience. Designed by the famous architect, Santiago Calatrava, the sleek and streamlined winery, similar to that of Marques de Riscal, a masterpiece of a design, yet bold in its placement among the vines. Yet despite its uniqueness, Bodegas Ysios is far from a small family owned winery. It is part of the Bodegas y Bebidas Group, which falls under the Allied Domecq conglomerate. Wines are made by Diego Pinilla and Herve Romat whom have created two wines made only from their 50 hectares of Tempranillo vines aged between 25 and 30 years.

    Wines Produced: Ysios Reserva, Vendimia Seleccionada

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    Reserva - Bodegas Ysios

    Thursday, March 27th, 2008

    Bodegas Ysios Reserva

    Gabriella

  • 2002 Ysios Rioja Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (4/9/2008)
    100% Tempranillo aged in French and American oak for 14 months. Bouquet full of violets, anyone? Really floral and perfumy nose with nicely integrated dark chocolate aromas. Spicy and bold in the mouth with loads of oak and lacking in acidity. Overall, it’s a nice wine if you enjoy big oaky flavors and tame mouthfeel, but personally, it’s not my cup of tea. 3/5

    • Ryan

  • 2002 Ysios Rioja Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (3/21/2008)
    Deep garnet red in color. Violet nose that shows a richness and black fruit quality while in the back there appears a backdrop of oak that is not forward but seems to support this nice fruit. In the mouth this is a modern wine with rich fruit, framed by creamy vanilla and oak. Fine and firm tannins that do not over power though a lack of acidity that I was hoping would balance this out a bit more. Very approachable flavors of wood, and dark fruits though seems to be lacking in the freshness. Still enjoyable. 3/5

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