It's 25% off this week if you buy 6, so time to try a few new wines.

This is a very modern style, more reminiscent of Navarra actually, from the flavour and bouquet almost all Tempranillo, tho it says some Graciano is in the mix, on the label, 13% vol. Of the wine or wine maker - who knows, the web is bald of any detail for this.
2004 was a good to very good vintage in Rioja, and the ripe fruit in this is indicative of the vintage. This was very young, and recently bottled cos the cork was hardly stained. Good quality cork.

The wine has a strong colour, new world style, very light oak for a reserva, some dark damson/ black cherry and vanilla, typical spice and Nav flavour, may be a tiny bit of oak smoke. This is the Rawsons Retreat of all rioja's tried by me. Reasonable sweet black cherry nose - but not classic. Much better than Rawsons Retreat, but you know what I mean by that statement
Good 'nightime' party wine, smooth, easy and full, reliable and then 25% off = £6 so no complaints.

Too samey for me, no angles to explore, or particular oak interest or dimension - but for £6, you get ripe tempranillo and easy oak. Could improve interest-wise with age (low acidity tho), very recently bottled, well locked down when in bulk tanks cos it was very fresh.

Much better than an Austin Allegro !

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Duncan

Though 2004 was an outstanding vintage thru most of spain....

Nice write up there (altho lost me a bit on the Rawsons retreat chat...)

Marques de Riscal Reserva 2005 (a vintage apparently not as good as 2004 but still very good I believe) is currently down to 9.99 in Sainsburys.
Stick the 25% off on top and you have what is usually a £13 (and usually well regarded) wine down to £7.50.

That too is meant to contain some Graciano and for that reason I'm actually gonna give it a swerve as prefer 100% tempranillo but thought it might float others boats

That "Graciano" an be a bit rocky at times...

Ok ok BA - we know that shezza's footwork is smart

(altho lost me a bit on the Rawsons retreat chat...)

Shez, thanks for the compliment I am trying..............

Rawson retreat Shiraz/cab is designed for uk supermarket buyers and is an over confectioned wine - there is an additional sweetness that I find to be artificial and not fruit induced.
To agree with Fosters (penfolds) description of the wine:-
Pepper and spice, dark plum and ripe red fruit aromas. Cedary oak combines with smoked meat notes and hints of liquorice. One needs a rather vivid imagination.

Hope that explains my tease better. This Rioja also has an element of unecessary confection.

Was 2004 an outstanding vintage throughout all of Spain even La Mancha ? which may have been bloody hot, dunno about that Sir.

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Duncan