Lovely American oak and slightly herbal. Very oaky flavour, with freshness. Very good and is sure to be reduced at a store near you soon, when you should snap it up. At the Co-op it’ll be reduced to £4.99 over Christmas. Fill your trolleys.

13%
24/10/2008

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mel

Regularly on offer, one would expect yet another rough and rustic Rioja. Not at all, a very simple label, no dreaded gold netting and very pleasant. It will keep a while so wait 'til it goes half-price and grab some.

Muriel, shmuriel.

Move along the shelf a little and seek out the Concordia. Infinitely better.

I think you may be right, had the '04 last Xmas. Have it noted as soft & fruity (just like me).

Lovely drop, bought a case of the 2003 when it was on offer, mostly gone now though.

And yes the Concordia is even better, but its not on the shelves around here

You make Southsea sound very foreign.

The Concordia is a beautiful wine and may, perhaps, have sold out until the next release. Haven't seen it for a while.

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mel

Heh Southsea is in no way foreign or any kind of exotic.
We have a pebble beach and a run-down pier, does it get any more British?
Perhaps i should have put Portsmouth?

On the foreign theme though, the time I bought Concordia was in Spain, I was looking at other more expensive bottles & the woman in the shop persuaded me to spend less on the Concordia as she thought it was better, and said it had beat much more expensive Rioja in tastings.

I was thinking perhaps she got commission for every bottle of it she sold, but it did turn out to be very nice

Bin there, dun that, not exactly Cannes.

Haven't had Concordia in a while but has always been a good un when I have purchased it in the past.

Foolishly didn't pick up any on my final visit to Maj Vinopolis last week (Dunc, there was no bin end bargains on offer unfortunatly. I think they've just shipped their stock to the nearest Maj warehouses)

Lordschleife, welcome to the gang mate. There no Majestic nearby your way?

Mel, Is the Riscal 05 that good ?
Only asking because I was treated to Decanter Mag subscription for xmas this year and Jan edition had a big piece reviewing 05 Reservas.
Pretty much all reviewed were drink from 2010. Riscal scored just a fair 15 pts
I noticed this only because I managed to pick up a magnum of 05 for £20 at Maj last week before reading both your Rioja article and the Decanter article

tbf, a magnum for that kinda money is worth a shout even if just to look a bit special for guests.
The fact you guys rated it so highly has just made me even happier (tho maybe just kicking myself for not buying another 1 or 2 while they were there)
you think its better to drink now or hold for a while?

think Sainsbury have 75cl bottle on offer for 9.99 at the moment or at least they did last week...

I think it's got a few years in it, but is beautiful now.

Sains offers changed on Fri/Sat and I can't get the new list off them. They're starting to be like Asda - impossible to deal with. No, that's unfair - slow on the uptake. Most offers arrive with me about a week before they go live. Sains need to be nudged every time.

May drop by later and will report back.

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mel

I noticed this only because I managed to pick up a magnum of 05 for £20 at Maj last week before reading both your Rioja article and the Decanter article tbf, a magnum for that kinda money is worth a shout even if just to look a bit special for guests.

Hi shez - HNY to you.

I believe there is an interpolation / maturing scale for bottle sizes and Laying down values - can't remember the name of the MW who came up with it.

But briefly - for 5 year keepers, you add a third extra time for double the volume. For 10 year keepers, you add 40% extra time for double the volume. Etcetera.

This scale must be somewhere on the web - worth finding.

Affordable Rioja keepers:
I drunk Marque's del Romerol 2001 from Marks last Autumn, and it was beautiful - So vintage year and maker are critical in your decision to wait.

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Duncan

Hi Dunc,

HNY to you too sir....

I too have heard before that Magnums have greater longevity than standard sized bottles.
Darn it - wishing I had bought 2 now !!
Have also seen 2006 Clos de Los Siete magnums in the past at Maj (£25). Again, never picked any up but then you can at times get the single bottles often at a discount at WR or MAJ so probably not worth it

will have a hunt around for that scale.....

Do you like Clos de los Siete? I can't get to grips with it. It's like eating that very very plain chocolate. The one that isn't really sweet. And the alcohol is pretty steep.

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mel

Have had good experiences and slightly bad ones with it.
I agree it can be a bit hit and miss....

Have an 05 and 06 left in my store.
Like you say, the alc can be a bit overpowering at times

Had a bottle of 07 and it was Waaaaaaaay too tannic even after a day and with food.
That said, at a tasting I tried it again and it was a lot better

Don't remember it being like bitter bitter chocolate tho (which I don't happen to like all that much either)

Thanks for looking mate

Shez, you are the kind of guy, i'd like to share a decent Rioja with, Mel as well of course, since she has impeccable taste for a good one. Muga Prado Enea GR 2001 is a case in point, and a perfect vintage from my limited exp'nce. Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva

True Rioja lovers are pretty rare, oh yes, many will say that they like Rioja, but when you ask them what their favourite charateristics are in a good vintage Rioja, they haven't really got a clue.

One day, I shall have to share a good one, and I have in mind, one of these bought in the recession that must be enjoyed by 2015 says RP.

La Rioja Alta 904

You are both miles apart. Vintage rioja should be sipped on a warm summer evening, taking one's time, relaxation, we await warmer days.

See ya,

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Duncan