We held a Rioja tasting at work about a month ago and got to show some great back vintage wines! As is typical for a tasting I was working, my notes are on the simpler/lighter side. But I did pickup a couple of bottles I really liked and am looking forward to giving them a proper tasting/review down the track.
Overall, the standout bottle for me was the 2014 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva. All three of the back vintage Urbinas were great, but the 2004 Gran Reserva Especial was my second favourite wine of the tasting. The 2021 Alegre Valgañón Rioja Carra Sto Domingo rounded out my top three, and while I didn't initially grab a bottle of it (unlike my top two), I may do so later.
Tasting notes for the standout wines are in the comments.
Also, thanks to u/maybe_not_a_penguin for the inspiration with our discussion of great importers.
by KennethParcellsworth
6 Comments
Nice wines…
**2021 Alegre y Valgañón Carra Sto Domingo**: concentrated berry fruits and cherries, touch of spice and leather, definitely fruit heavy at the moment but the underlying spice and leather notes, along with the intensity and complexity indicate this is going to turn into a great wine with some ageing. Solid value.
**2019 Roda Reserva**: Big red cherry notes, keen acidity, bordering on astringent, tannins hold it together well, not as complex or intense as the others, still nice. I felt it was a bit pricy for what it was.
**2000 Urbina Selección**: bright red and black cherries, touch of baking spices, leather, and tobacco, vibrant and supple. Surprisingly youthful and primary for a 24 year old wine. Great value.
**2006 Urbina Reserva Especial**: it has the fruitiness of the 2000, but with more pronounced and integrated spice and wood notes, a bit more leather and tobacco as well. Great value.
**2004 Urbina Gran Reserva Especial**: fresh red and black fruits are complemented by some dried fruit, plum, and coconut notes. Very spicy and leathery, great balance of primary, secondary, and tertiary flavours. Delicious and outstanding value.
**2014 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva**: red cherries, black cherries, strawberries, cranberries, intense spice bouquet with distinctive cracked black pepper note, also has beautiful leather and tobacco leaf notes complemented by well-integrated tannins, definitely wine of the night. Outstanding stuff.
That 2000 urbina is such a great value. I’ve served it up at bbqs as a head fake with burnt ends and it’s always a hit with rich foods.
Urbina is one of my favorites, such great value.
Their rosé is fantastic and cheap too.
That Alegre is always a phenomenal value. I’ve had a lot of older Urbina, also incredible for the money. But everyday high quality fun wine – Alegre is a gem.
My first reaction was the bottle on the end looked like Cos d’Estournel.