Allende, Calvario, Rioja

To the naysayers I say this wine is drinking quite nicely. The wine is rich looking w light fruit and spice on the nose. The palate reveals quite a bit of tannins with blue and black berries, thyme and Rosemary coupled w a short but clean finish. While there’s no question it’s time to drink it, it is alive and well; looking forward to my last few bottles.

This was past its prime but enjoyable, none-the-less. Lost a lot of the primary fruit which was replaced by very soft tannins and some herbaceous notes. A lot of sediment. Gave this a 6 hour decant and filtered most of the sediment. Cork was fine - and it wasn't "spoiled" in any way.

Surprisingly uninteresting and thin/dilute. Tastes like a pleasant $15 Tempranillo-based wine....

Tasting Calvario & Mártires (Enoteca Barolo - Madrid) : Timid nose of stones but rolling down the hill. Same thing on the palate, metallic acidity and some elegance but a very watery one. Una tímida nariz a piedra pero desde una pendiente cuesta a abajo. Esta idea se reafirma en boca, con acidez metálica y algo de elegancia pero muy acuosa.

WIML90? I took this to a World Cup Finals watching party as part of the theme to match up with the Spanish team playing in the final. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose up front was not promising smelling a little green and vegetal. However with about 30 minutes to an hour of air time the bottle funk blew off to reveal notes of leather, herbs du Provence and a mix of dark fruits. …

Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)) : Some spice. Rustic. A little heat. Well done overall. Not a standout performance for the day.

WIML90,PURPLE89 Tasted November 19, 2007. Opened and served immediately. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of Kirsch, charcoal, a hint of leather and rose petals. Flavors of black cherries, black berries and lavender. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full body. Drink now with a minimum of an hour in the decanter or continue to hold. Be sure and decant for sediment either way, throwing a fair amount. 14% alcohol.

WIML89,PURPLE89,WA93,WS94 Tasted February 1, 2006 at home in Spiegelau Authenthis Magnum glasses. Came on like gangbusters up front but in less that 30 minutes turned more towards an odd iodine or metallic taste on the palate. Odd. Perhaps it is a little closed still? Perhaps it needs at least an hour or two in the decanter before trying? Weird.

Tasted at an offline so brief comments only Yowza baby. Me likey. Dark purple color. Attractive nose of blueberries, pepper and earth. Flavors of red licorice, sweet cherries and currants. This wine is drinking really well right now and was probably showing the best tonight. Drink now through let’s say 2012. Gotta buy some more to beef up my Spanish section of the cellar. NOTE: I don't normally post numerical ratings but I thought it would be interesting to Gastro …

Subtler and plummier than the '99 Aurus. Cinnamon, leather, tobacco. Slightly shorter finish.