Chivite, Gran Feudo Crianza, Navarra

purple garnet, bright and light, just a hint of rust on the rim evolution from earth to yeast, spice, red fruit 70 tempranillo 25 garnacha (very noticeable) 5 cabernet. Gets better as it has chance to open up. Light-to-medium bodied, elegant and complex b

The color is a deep garnet with a rim of brick red. The aromas are a quite closed but I get subtle floral at first, followed by some white pepper and earthiness. Flavorful medium body of strawberry and raspberry with a medium finish of cloves and tobacco. Tannins are still firm with good structure suggesting that this wine could still age and slightly improve but easy to drink now. Good but not exceptional with a great QPR for an everyday …

This wine was, sadly, flawed. Past its prime perhaps but more likely the store where I bought it, in a discount bin at that, had stored it near heat, or just too long upright in a lighted room and too warm. In any case you could tell that it was actually an excellent QPR wine and not bad at all. If I see more recent vintages around I might well by some for a weekday and party wine. Really good, …

WSET Advanced Cert3 - course wines (Fine Wine Partners, Sydney) : {cork, 12%, A$15} A ruby-coloured wine smelling of wood-spice, cherries and a slight sweaty note. A dry palate is dominated by tannins, some raspberry/cherry fruit pokes through, yet the wine turns out to be oddly light-bodied. Just medium length finish, respectable value.