Finca Allende, Aurus, Rioja

I wrote in 2018 that this wine is beginning to fade but, if it is it's doing it very slowly! Tasted blind I had this much younger. Dark ruby and still bright, interesting nose of flowers and charcoal with excellent concentration of ripe red fruit and some cola characteristics. Just a great and serious wine.

Drinking beautifully now, despite a somewhat distant suggested drinking window. Earthy, forest nose, but really still the vibrant sweet cherry on palate. Wonderfully smooth, long finish. I have one bottle left ☹️ in the cellar...

In a great time to be drunk, but with strength to evolve for at least another 10 years

An example of how modern big style Rioja ages? This was definitely past its best - no longer had any clarity of fruit - had a very rustic, dirty, earthy palate. Wine itself was cloudy, but had been resting for several days. Tobacco and leather dominate the palate. Underlying structure of acidity and tannin still there, though undoubtedly softened with age. Had clearly once been a big rich wine and still was in some ways but large fruit kick that …

This wine is beginning to fade since I tasted it a couple of years ago but my last notes capture the essence of this wine. Lots of complexity on the nose and palate with cherry fruit but tertiary aromas of leather, earth, mushroom, forest floor and then a palate with red and back cherry fruit, tannins totally melded and with a brisk acidity still. So complex, so delicious.

Stawberry leather. Nicely oxidized. Glass is great but not sure Id want a bottle.

Tasted blind. Ruby with a pronounced amber rim. The nose has extraordinary complexity with tons of tertiary aromas of earth, mushroom, forest floor, rotting leaves, umami and blossom, somewhat randomly. The fruit is still there too with sweet red cherry drifting out of the glass. The palate has red cherries plus all those vegetal and savoury flavours that I got on the nose and it still has grip and structure too. Very long finish. Ignore the drinking window on this …

Ruby and youthful still on the eye. Black and red berry and cherry, leather bound books, blossom aromas too. The palate offers wonderful black and red cherry fruit, graphite and mineral thread too and tannins still there but totally integrated and with lovely acidity. This has a long 40 second finish which is a delight. Wonderful now but still has lots of life in it so no great hurry to drink up.

Outstanding. Complex. Structured for at least another 10 years. One of best spanish wines.

One of the early super premium Rioja entries, Aurus showed especially well in its early years-- a Bordeaux like execution of old vine Tempranillo, emphasizing smooth, deep tones over the smoke, clay, tar and pure cherry center. The wine went into hibernation and is just emerging. A bit of dryness, tannic acid and restrained nose led after an hour of decanting and more time in the glass to a richer, more cherry/ oak flavor profile, excellent viscosity, a beautiful dark …

Ruby, still youthful looking. Nose of black olive, old books, blackberry and redcurrant fruit. The palate is super smooth but with amazing intensity of redcurrant and red cherry flavours, savoury, BBQ meats and tapenade. One of favourite wines of 2014.

Spectacular. Complex. Forever.

Ottis' 50th Birthday: Thanks a lot Otti for sharing so many great wines with us!

Potent on the nose, alcoholic, complex, slightly nutty. Long finish.