Recent Double dip offer
Retails at £7.40 currently £4.75 online.

Typical Ribera dark fruits and good use of oak. Really strong blueberry element. Pretty good. 2nd of my 4 Tesco double dips after the TF Sancerre. Doing well so far. Another amazing bargain at £3.56.

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tribs

Good to know...
came close to buying some myself but opted for the Berberana reserva instead
Think I probably would have preferred RdD

Edited above. Added vintage.

Shezza, I've tried the Berberana in the past, which isn't bad. In my experience, Ribera is darker and spicier than Rioja in general and is pretty consistent in quality. Ribera is usually quite a bit more expensive than this and although not the best example, even the current offer price represents decent value.

I don't think there is much potential for ageing though, but I could be wrong.

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tribs

yeah, I personally prefer RdD to Rioja for those reasons.

I'm sitting on some Pesquera 05 Crianza and Alion 04 waiting for them to age a bit more before drinking them

I agree that RdD definately tends to be a fair bit pricier.
Think that is why a swerved it, because I wasn't sure it could be any good at that px

You won't be too disappointed with the Berberana Reserva 2006.

Good'ish nose, plenty of fruit, right amount of oak - AND dirt cheap if you bought right, at well under a fiver - at full monty though (11.99) - No.....typical Tesco bump up.

I bought some Pesquera Reserva from Safeway (yep, years ago) but it was loosing it after 10 years or so. The last one at 12 had gone too soft and a bit wine gummy although the colour and texture were good. So I'd say, for the crianza - drink at 6-7 years. But ......I dont know how tannic the '05 is ? Furthermore, they don't make Ribera like they use to, therefore silly to risk it, unless you want a softer wine.

As for your general preferences - I'm affraid I'm firmly in the rioja camp, the aroma is to die for, on the good one's

However - talking Altos de Tamaron RdD

Another amazing bargain at £3.56. £3.50 is a damn good deal I'd be interested to know the varietal mix is ?

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Duncan

It's all Tempranillo

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tribs

A classic classic bargain. A concentrated Navara - with more Oak ?

Having said that - the incredibly expensive Vega Sicilia has small amounts of Cab & Merlot blended in.

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Duncan

Nice one Tribs, this just caught my eye online, did a quick search and found your note.

Ive just ordered x6 of the '09, had a £5 voucher, already reduced to £3.56, works out at £2.72 a bottle plus free delivery.

Nice.

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Yep, Im still here.