Recommendation: SPECTACULAR Rioja Reserve and an excellent value at $22.
Winery/Producer: Ontanon Bodega Museo, Spain.
Grape Variety: 95% Tempranillo and 5% Grenache
Geographic Region, Appellation: Rioja, Spain
Vintage: 2005
Price: $21.95
Purchased From: Woodland Hills Wine Company, Woodland Hills, California.
Paired With: Southwestern chicken flavored with taco seasoning, rice and black beans flavored with turmeric and cumin, grilled asparagus.
Tasting:
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He said: Opened one-hour before drinking. Clear, but inky dark ruby color with the same color rim. Very nice wood, leather, tobacco, plum and smoky aromas. Smooth as silk, dry and mouth filling; complex, dusty layers of succulent dark fruit and licorice. Then the finish was even smoother and filed with dry fruit flavors and spiciness that just went on and on. In a word OUTSTANDING!!! This was like the nectar of the gods…it was so silky, luscious and flavorful. OK with the dinner, but simply MEMORABLE drinking alone after the dinner. The intoxicating flavors and delicate mouth feel just encouraged another sip and each taste was like exploring deeper into the rich tastes. This clearly was SPECTACULAR Rioja Reserve and an excellent value at $22…it was a very special treat!!!
She said: Ruby red color, opaque, slow moving fat legs; Great first sniff with leather, mustiness and lots of ripe cherries. The flavor that followed did not disappoint and carried on the berry with a dry, smooth, medium bodied mouth feel. The tannins were very soft and the finish long and tasty. The wine was not a good pairing with the dinner that was spicy, but was delicious sipping alone once the heat of the dinner subsided in the mouth. I look forward to having this with lamb, beef, or roast chicken. Yum!
Alcohol: 13%
UPC Code: 8 59331 00506 8
Imported by: Garber & Co.; Topanga, California.
Photo from Ontanon.