Senor de Lesmos Rioja Gran Reserva

Some fun wines with buds : Plummy aromas, mulled cherries and raspberries, with black pepper, and mint. Zesty, almost austere, with smooth, fine-grained tannins and lots of herbs, tobacco, wet earth, some underlying minerals. I liked this a lot but I’m not sure how much longer I’d cellar it.

Same as previous bottles; great!

Old Temparnillo's are the best. Drink them too young and you miss the softening and integration that comes with age. This is a very fine one and there is still loads of sweet fruit in the palate. The tart cherry on the nose invites you to dive in. The smooth balance of acid and subtle tannins keep you coming back for more. The finish is tart and gives a little pucker, which makes this an obvious food wine. It complemented …

Starts off with a nose of chocolate milk, vanilla bean, and oregano, but the palate has plenty of red cherry, plum, and black cherry fruit along with cocoa, leather, anise, and white pepper. Yummy, with secondary characteristics acting in harmony with the wine even if the overall impression was slightly stewed and sweet. Deceptively long if a bit simple on the mid-palate. Served with meat or mole, this will wow many and provide a better experience than many a pricey …

The best of 4 Riojas we tasted. By a long mile it beat Randez Reserva 1996, Ardanza Reserva 2000, and Pecina Gran Reserva 1998. Classic old world Rioja. The price will bring a smile to your face.

It took a little time to air this Rioja and let it come into its own, but then it came on strong. There was plenty of fruit left in this 15 year old and a bit of tartness that complemented the Manchego quite well. It was smooth from middle to end and had a good long finish. An outstanding find, but I only bought 2.

A good dose of earthy terroir on the nose with ripe berries and vanilla. Fruity and dusty on the palate, massively sweet fruit liqueur, with a medium finish.