Tesco made up label but actually produced by Baron de Ley who aim to make modern Riojas, which this certainly is.

20 months in oak barrels, but this wine is all about soft, youthful fruit rather than your typical austere rioja. Nice long finish with a final hit of black fruit which gives way to woody tannins.

With the 25% for 6 saving this is cracking value. Online it's currently £4.98

Wizzy, how do you rate the Vina Maria grand reserva ? Please

The last time you wrote about the big T invented rioja label - You weren't that keen on the wine - "downhill" and not the same producer, was your opinion

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Duncan

I suppose if they keep changing the producer, occasionally they might happen upon a good one. Baron de Ley certainly falls into that category. Might sneak one or two into a 6.

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tribs

The Gran Reserva 2004 is from a different producer. It's pretty good, perhaps due to the 2004 vintage itself.

The 2006 Reserva offers much better value and in my opinion better wine making. The last time the 'experts' raved about the Gran Reserva was when Baron de Ley (makers of the 2006 Reserva) made it back in 2000.

All very confusing - but if we didn't have made up labels this wouldn't happen.

Yeah, Thanks Wizz. After posing the Q. I went there to buy the GR only to find it was suddenly out of stock. The wine Gang said that the millenium release was the top doggy - was it WG or Vikki Moore ? Anyway, no matter, that was a consolation of sorts, and I dumped any disappointment and trawled the rest of the site.

Tesco offers and stock cap

Q. for Mr B. It is true that the offers are capped before warehouse stock is reduced to zero ? Or is it ? If a computer minimum holding is put on the stock record ? Ba, you're up very late some nights, is the stock cap put on at any particular time in the middle of the night ? Praps it really is a replenishment and demand driven stock management programme !

I have tried to outplay the programme for a Chablis on the next vintage release, (one has to go to bed) only to find the OOS tag on the stock record when I went back at 7:30am.

Many reasons ? In a vain attempt to ensure that a later release is delivered for a white wine that one wishes to be as fresh as possible if taking 6.

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Duncan

I dunno Dunc, all a load of smoke and mirrors I guess.
Wanted to get a mxd 6 or 12 instore rather than 6s of each, but was disappointed by stocks.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

Now £5.00 per bottle at my local Tesco - with the current 25% for 6 that's £3.75 per bottle by my calculations.