From the people who bring you the famous Federico Paternina Banda Azul here’s another really well made wine.
Soft tannic structure, full bodied, velvety and fruity.
We had it with a Chicken Pasta, equally at home with a Red Meat.
€12 on a half-case deal in O’Briens.
Nice solid Rioja – a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano.
John and I both enjoyed this in Quatros – the first meal since March lockdown.
https://www.labascula.net/the-charge-rioja
A Super Valu ‘special selection’ exclusive. Full on red berries with a hint of Vanilla and a big oakey finish.
Raw berries, typical Oaked Tempranillo from Rioja.
cune.com
Oakey Tempranillo from Miguel Torres who produce consistently acceptable quality wines.
Not as big a Rioja bang as I’d expected. Apparently, this is their first Rioja – with Torres notes here.
So perhaps a little more to do to bring it up to Torres benchmark.
Good article from the Independent Wine Review on the 2010 vintage here
Continuing the Spanish Red theme, this went with the cheese.
Aged for 24 months in Oak barrels and a further 36 months in the bottle this is mellow yet full bodied.
Typical Rioja, 100% Tempranillo from the Cenicero Vineyards.
Superior to the Gran Sangre de Toro we tasted at the same meal.
A Christmas Corporate Gift. The Bodegas Riojanas S.A. Group is a publically quoted group with Spanish and Portugese interests.
Very pale colour. Tart. Unremarkable with nothing distinctive on offer I thought, though Greg enjoyed it.
Blend of 80% Viura (also known as Macabeu (Catalan) / Macabeo which is the white grape of Rioja and widely used in the production of Cava) and 20% Sauvignon.
€24 in Bloom – I would have expected more given the credentials of the Winery. Good lunch special: spicy leek Bangers & Mash for Ian & Louis; a salad for Greg.
Ready to drink now, slightly rusty / over the hill.
No legs and I would have expected a fuller body from a Reserva.
Nonetheless, not unpleasant and had a decent mouth feel and delivery.
The label didn’t give a lot away and it looks like a co-op, though the address suggests it could be this winery.
The blend is the Rioja standard of Tempranillo and Garancha.
Fish this out from under the stairs and enjoy it now before it oxidizes futher.
A family favourite. Tempranillo mainly. Distinctive. We actually prefer the simplicity of the standard Campo table wine as it’s nothing pretentious, though the Reserva – aged for 12 months longer in Oak – is always welcome. We presented this to the Geraghty’s: Erin, Simon, Stella & Leslie when they came to Dinner accompanied by Amy & Ross. We also enjoyed the Domaine Duffour Cotes de Gascogne 2012.
McConkey Wine 