La Rioja Alta, Vina Alberdi Crianza, Rioja

This is VERY different than the Alberdi Reserva. Deep garnet and very aromatic. Oak. Leather. White pepper. Herbs. Damp earth. Medium body with high acidity. Very soft tannins. Not what I expected. Still have 2 more bottles, will give it a try…

92 Qué vino clásico de Rioja tan rico!! Vainilla, tostados, notas lácticas. Buenas boca, vino ya asentado y redondo. Buena acidez y buen final, con fruta rica y buena crianza.

[Tasted Double Blind] This pours medium ruby in the glass. The nose is of coconut scented sunscreen, burnt coconut shavings, roasted fruit, alcohol, overripe strawberries, and old furniture. The palate comes across a tad hollow, light on fruit, heavy on structure. Tannin is medium, with medium plus acid. The finish closes on quite bitter and overripe notes. I ultimately landed on guessing a relatively youthful Rioja but from a hot year. Can't say I was a fan of this at …

Ordered from wine menu at Dizzy Jazz Club Manhattan, very nice Rioja, cranberry, plum, cherry, truffles, earthy undertones. Should improve over the short term and last for ten + years.

Smullen. Heerlijke, zachte Rioja, mooi hout, subtiel bovenop typisch rioja fruit.

100% Tempranillo from the +40 years old Mayorita, El Bardal and El Rebollar vineyards in Rodezno, and Alto del Rey in Labastida. Aged for a year in new American oak barrels and for another year in 4-yo American oak barrels. 14,5% alcohol, 1,9 g/l residual sugar, 5,0 g/l acidity and 0,74 g/l VA. Deep and quite opaque dark plummy color with youthful blueish hue. The nose feels ripe, sweet-toned and moderately oak-driven with aromas of soft black cherries and ripe …

Surprisingly obvious house style on the nose despite this wines obvious junior position in the LRA heirarchy. Varnish, bright cherry, spice. Still quite juicy on the palate, but with an admirable amount of structure as well. Impeccable value around €15.

Yummy. Over ripe dark cherries, vanilla, pomegranate gravel and mint. Lots of rain. 3 vineyards. 100% Tempranillo. High elevation. Clay soils. And elegance. Delicious.

90 Un clásico riojano absoluto. Granate rubí en la copa. Nariz clásica, con sus tostados, su vainilla, su coco, algo de fruta roja. Muy limpio, nada guarrete. En boca es muy agradable, cremoso, tanino suave y fundido. Fruta roja, muy buena acidez. Un vino impecable de una bodega mítica.

I'm not entirely sure which Alberdi this is, because the label clearly states "Cosecha 1997" in place of "Reserva 1997" and there is no mention of Reserva anywhere in the label. However, at least the LRA website doesn't mention Alberdi Cosecha / Crianza 1997, only the Reserva. I don't know if there are just two different labels for the same wine or if these are two different wines. Nevertheless, at least one of these wines ages for 2 years in …

Russk. It is even improved with age. Plenty of La Rioja Alta character, dil and coconut on the nose. It was the wine of the night at the whiners high altitude event in Aventura with Luis and Leslie hosting.

Tasted blind. The color is garnet, with medium (+) intensity. The nose is clean, with mostly oak-derived aromas of cedar and tobacco. The palate is dry, with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins, medium alcohol (13.5%). Black fruit, spice and slightly bitter, medium long finish. The wine is medium bodied but shows medium (+) flavor intensity. Drink now, but should continue to age gracefully for several more years.

Russk GC at Mustang. Long decant. Very light bodied and mature wood and earth.

Tasted at the winery. Really pretty nose of strawberries and toasted oak. Some coffee on the palate but mainly red fruit. Really nice and a great value. Medium finish.