Valenciso, Reserva, Rioja

This was a quite delicious yet uncomplicated tempranillo with a very dark crimson colour and a rich nose of blackcurrant confiture, raspberry cubes, nettle and cloves. The palate presents a rich sphere of fruit which persists nicely without any real layering or subtlety of form. Good fun with beautiful ripe fruit. A wine of the sun !

Classic Rioja, clean medium plus body, well balanced, blackberry, clove, oak, a slight hint of butter, tobacco, and licorice. Best until day 2. Always good.

Went for the oldest vintage on the wine list. Was fine, but probably better bottles/value. Not much fruit/flavor at first but was better with air and food. Tannins still present but moderated.

👃 austere, ripe red raspberry 👅 Fresh, medium high acid, can't really pick out the fruit, maybe raisinated plum or cherry, integrated oak, a little vanilla, smoked meat. Well integrated with just a little secondary development. Drink now.

The colour is clear deep ruby. The wine has a medium (+) intensity. The aromas are violets, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, plum, white pepper, vanilla, cedar, clove, leather, earth, cooked blackberry. This wine is developing. This wine is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) tannin, high alcohol, and a full body. It has a pronounced flavour intensity and a long finish. The flavours are of raspberry, violets, blackberry, plum, white pepper, leather, vanilla. This wine is outstanding. Can drink now …

Well, I really like the nose - chocolate and dark cherry, and a touch of walnut to it. Palate has an initial entry of being flush and then build with tannins and acidity. Quite well put together, tasting solid now. But for $45, i think you could probably find other options. One taster notes that its kinda medicinal, and I can see that on the back of the palate.

Glad it's the reserve, offers a bigger gulp, decent depth but no complexity

Wines of the Camino de Santiago; 9/13/2022-10/19/2022 (Northern Spain) : I bought this as a 500mL off of a list in Santo Domingo de Calzada. Right away, there is good balance with dark red cherries, cranberries, licorice, spice notes, tobacco leaf, leather, violets, dust, coffee grounds, baker’s vanilla, and black currants. There is excellent depth with the nose really popping right away. The Medium/full bodied feel is balanced with good depth along with zesty, medium+ acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins. …

Valenciso Masterclass with Diego Santana (Prince Sydney, 40 Hansard Street) : Red over dark hued fruits, slight strawberry and cherry, slight spiced oak, quite primary fruit and a little herbaceous underpin. Medium plus intensity acidity, fruit forward, tangy, tannic burr is very gentle. Quite simple, balanced, okay but a little <shrug>