I wrote earlier about the Vibrant Rioja tasting event in Los Angeles, focusing on the Lopez de Heredia wines. Here are some of the other taste treats I discovered at the tasting.
Faustino had two wines I liked a lot. The Crianza '07 andReserva Cinco 2005 both show dense dark noses with earthy fruit. They taste just as rich as the nose leads me to believe they will. The Faustino Gran Reserva '98 is aging well and showing a trace of eucalyptus.
Big flavors came from the Beronia table. The '07 Tempranillo (100%), '07 Crianza of Tempranillo and Garnacha and the '06 Reserva of Tempranillo and Graciano offer big, mineral-driven cherry flavors. The '01 Gran Reserva shows more depth, having been aged three years in barrels and three years in bottles. It blends Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. Beronia's III a.C. '04 is described as a "Super Rioja," blending Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo grapes. Pepper, leather and tobacco notes adorn the cherry fruit.
Antano's '09 Viura was one of my favorites, a nutty white with great acidity. The Conde de Valdemar Rosé impresses me quite a bit - one of the better $6 wines I've tried. CdV Inspiracion Valdemar 2007 shows a lovely bright cherry flavor. It's 100% Graciano.
Bodeagas Landaluce poured some great wines, in particular the Tempranillo with the mocha nose and the Capricho de Landaluce '05. The latter is all smokey and lush, and it's one of the more expensive wines at the event, with a $47 price tag.
Castillo Labastida's '08 Madurado is rustic and full of minerals, while their Reserva 2004 gives a nose and palate full of succulent black cherry.
Navarrsotillo's Noemus Rioja Blanco '09 makes a huge tropical play, Noemus Rioja Rosado '09 is a 100% Garnacha rosé and the Noemus Rioja Tinto '08 blends Tempranillo with Garnacha and Mazuelo. It has a huge fruit expression. All three of those wines deliver a lot for under $10 each. Spend a little more - $19 - for the Magister Bibendi Rioja Reserva 2005 and you get a great red wine with fantastic tannins and no bite.
Faustino had two wines I liked a lot. The Crianza '07 andReserva Cinco 2005 both show dense dark noses with earthy fruit. They taste just as rich as the nose leads me to believe they will. The Faustino Gran Reserva '98 is aging well and showing a trace of eucalyptus.
Big flavors came from the Beronia table. The '07 Tempranillo (100%), '07 Crianza of Tempranillo and Garnacha and the '06 Reserva of Tempranillo and Graciano offer big, mineral-driven cherry flavors. The '01 Gran Reserva shows more depth, having been aged three years in barrels and three years in bottles. It blends Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. Beronia's III a.C. '04 is described as a "Super Rioja," blending Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo grapes. Pepper, leather and tobacco notes adorn the cherry fruit.
Antano's '09 Viura was one of my favorites, a nutty white with great acidity. The Conde de Valdemar Rosé impresses me quite a bit - one of the better $6 wines I've tried. CdV Inspiracion Valdemar 2007 shows a lovely bright cherry flavor. It's 100% Graciano.
Bodeagas Landaluce poured some great wines, in particular the Tempranillo with the mocha nose and the Capricho de Landaluce '05. The latter is all smokey and lush, and it's one of the more expensive wines at the event, with a $47 price tag.
Castillo Labastida's '08 Madurado is rustic and full of minerals, while their Reserva 2004 gives a nose and palate full of succulent black cherry.
Navarrsotillo's Noemus Rioja Blanco '09 makes a huge tropical play, Noemus Rioja Rosado '09 is a 100% Garnacha rosé and the Noemus Rioja Tinto '08 blends Tempranillo with Garnacha and Mazuelo. It has a huge fruit expression. All three of those wines deliver a lot for under $10 each. Spend a little more - $19 - for the Magister Bibendi Rioja Reserva 2005 and you get a great red wine with fantastic tannins and no bite.
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