Rioja seems to be flavour of the month.
This is a fine example from The Wine Society.
Soft tannins , spice and cigar box aroma.
Went down so well on Friday night that detailed tasting notes passed us by.
Recommended , plenty of life in it yet.
Followed by the excellent Fattoria Poggiopiano La tradizione.
A good way to start any weekend
Decanter Rated this outstanding in this months edition.
I was a little disappointed with the first few bottles.
This week I tried a few more . Fantastic. Must have been some bottle variation.
Complex , spicy , smoky nose . long and intriguing finish.
Brilliant value for money.
Available at Majestic
Lovely ripe fruit vanilla smooth tannins hint of chocolate and spice balanced and drinking beautifully now. Majestic and other outlets for approximately £15 currently reduced to £10. 99 (2007).
Wish I was chez Franz!
My brother in law ‘forgot’ the wine supply. Luckily dad’s wine came to the rescue and we rather guiltily raided his dwindling store of Imperial 2001 Reserva Rioja, Spain.
A lovely intense palate of red berry fruits with spices and sweetness of French and American oak. Went down very well with forerib of beef in horseradish butter.
Mince pies were washed down with Bimbadgen 2006 botrytised semillion. This is delicious and lush, full of honey dried fruits and that joyful botrytis finish. Phil promised to bring the Mouton next year!
Muga 2005 is a beautiful rioja, oak-aged and full of chocolate, coffee and rich wooded interaction with mulberry and plum fruit. It went well with a rare fillet steak with my son Ben. Available from Majestic for £11.00 per bottle – a real steal for this price.
WanderCurtis Wine 