Winery - Altanza
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
With clean, breezy cherry and plum aromas, this one covers the aromatic basics with aplomb. The palate is balanced, with roundness, width and creamy plum and berry flavors. It finishes pure with a touch of milk chocolate, and overall it's what you want from an under-$20 Rioja.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Subtlety is not in the calling here. The nose is chunky, with leather and scattered fruit. Sweet plum and berry fruit is bolstered by forward acidity. Condensed and short, but undoubtedly lively.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Rather intense and a bit clumsy, but with solid leather, baked earth and charred aromas. The palate is roasted and heavy, with grabby tannins and awkward acids. Finishes with hints of tomato in addition to more acidity.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
More red than brown. Aromas of wood spice, cinnamon and black cherry are lively, while the palate offers mostly tart cherry and raspberry. Hard and lean on the finish, with sharp acidity.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Saucy and a touch baked, with savory lead aromas that render the fruit secondary. Zesty in the mouth, with juicy, prickly acids that propel red fruit, tomato, olive and herbal flavors. Finishes lively and alert, with oregano and dried raspberry flavors. Drink now through 2017.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Meaty on the nose, with chunky leather aromas along with mature fruit. In the mouth, it’s a touch racy and acidic, which serves to bolster its raspberry and pie-cherry personality. Pretty good overall, with a sizable allotment of zest.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Good, pure, dark and teetering on powerful, with strong, rich black plum aromas. The mouth is staunch and balanced, with full dark fruit flavors of blackberry along with bitter chocolate. Solid and clean throughout. A winner in its price range.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A chunky wine with compost, coffee and leather on the nose. The palate holds onto that chunkiness with clumsy flatness that goes with herbal plum and berry flavors. Airing allows it to unfold and find a better place, but always does it seem heavy and on the murky side.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Sweet aromas of raisin, cola, root beer and tobacco suggest ripeness, yet the palate keeps a firm, gritty feel as it pumps out berry, plum and cola flavors. Arguably a little brandied and warm, but if you drink it soon it will deliver adequate freshness and lots of berry fruit and mocha.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Opens with tinny, clacky aromas that fail to convey clarity. With time it improves, but even then the palate has a grating, choppy feel in support of funky, brambly berry flavors. Finishes hot and oaky, with chippy tartness.
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