I have to concur with Mel's notes on this lovely wine.
Nicely aged, caramelly, woody with good nose and long finish.
Bargain at ?5.99

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Ade

beware though, my Co-op has the ordinary Reserva (not Gran) on the shelf under the sign for Gran Reserva. the ordinary Reserva is going to be on offer from Monday 4th Dec, reduced from 7.99 to 5.99. and the Gran Reserva offer has been extended from 3rd to 31st Dec. should have finished the case i bought on Saturday before the end of Dec, so will re-buy.

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mel

Unfortunately my local Co-op has sold out - here's hoping they get some more before Xmas. Good job I bought 12 bottles in the first place - still 7 of the little beauties left!

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Ade

just finished tasting 18 whites for christmas. the only unpleasant wine was a soave, but otherwise some real corkers. will post the article tomorrow. M&S Kaituna Hills NZ SB was tops for Sauv, as was Porta Chard in New World Chard category, from Thresher - both 7.99 but of course the Thresher wine is 3 for 2.

i loved the Mondavi Fume Blanc at 9.99 but again it's from Thresher. i pulled rank and insisted i kept the bottle, while the tasting panel dragged home 2 bottles each.

to be fair, out of 18 wines, 8 were from Thresher. must have done something to attract their PR bloke because a lovely box full of wine arrived this week.

full run down tomorrow.

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mel

I liked the Muriel GR 96 too, tho a lot more at Xmas 05 than last Xmas. It's maybe past it now? A nice old-fashioned wine, anyway, with the oak wellintegrated and nothing like the oak monsters like Viña Mara, later incarnations of Concordia, etc. As someone who got into wine by drinking real Rioja when I lived in Spain, generally I avoid supermarket Rioja (with the excception of Murrieta and Ardanza).