Clear, deep, young-looking purple despite its age. Nose of smoky vanilla oak and raspberry jam. Medium-bodied with adequate acidity and tannins but the sour cherry fruit is fading. Drink up.
Rich notes of black plum, dark cherries and cassis with pleasant tertiary aromas of tobacco, cedar and leather that mingle with integrated notes of vanilla. Full body with fresh acid and elegant if firm tannins. Made for red meat. Hanger steak on the grill would be my pick.
This Tempranillo and Mazuelo blend from Spain’s Rioja region is deep ruby in colour with a spicy nose of sandalwood, strawberry and cherry compote with evident oak notes. It’s medium-bodied, dry, with cherry and red plum flavours, balancing acidity and a note of cloves on the finish. It’s got admirable length on the finish.
Uncle Pepe’s unfiltered, unclarified version of his Fino, bottled in spring at the time of maximum yeast (“flor”) activity, intending a fresh and delicate experience. Clear deep gold. Aromas of yeast and dried pear and the umami of salty salami. Light-bodied, tasting of ripe apple and a certain grapey-ness that could deceive you into tasting sweetness, nicely balanced with a bit of almond bitterness. The “En Rama” version, in my opinion, is different, but not necessarily better.
Clear deep gold. Aromas of yeast, smoked ham and bruised apples, also caramelized sugar, but the nose remains dignified and austere. Light-bodied with tangy acidity over umami and apple flavours, leading to a long, slightly bitter finish. Perfect with ham of all sorts. Sherry is so sadly neglected. Drink immediately, and finish the bottle rather than trying to store the remains.
A versatile red wine for meat dishes. This Tempranillo and Mazuela blend is deep ruby in colour with a spicy nose of sandalwood, strawberry and cherry compote and evident oak notes. It’s medium-bodied, dry, with cherry and red plum flavours, balancing acidity and a note of cloves on the finish. It’s got admirable length on the finish.
The 2016 vintage of this wine is not only the best value Rioja on the LCBO shelves but possibly the best value of all their reds. Deep purple in colour, it has an attractive nose of sandalwood, strawberry and ripe plum with a slightly earthy note; it’s medium-bodied and dry with red berry and red plum flavours and well-integrated oak. A harmonious wine with lively acidity and ripe tannins.