Rioja Wines – Episode #180

February 12, 2007

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Wines tasted in this episode:

Spanish Rioja wines are put to the test by Gary Vaynerchuk, sit back and enjoy and please jump in and mention some of your favorite Rioja’s and anything else you would like to say about wine!

143 Responses

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  1. November 19, 2009

    Mike in C-town

    Catching up on this eoisode as I’m needing a Rioja fix. Interesting that you said 02 is the only vintage to avoid – and then have the 02 Marques de Riscal sitting right there on the table. As expected, it was horrible, but why go down that road if you already know it’s an awful vintage.

    Anyway GV, four shows with rioja in them in 2008 and here we are in 2009 and not a one. Aren’t those 2004’s on the market? Hint, hint.

    The 1998 MdR I’m drinking right now is very nice.

  2. October 25, 2009

    John J.

    qotd next one i plan to try is the Tinto Pesquera Ribera del Duero ‘05

    Gary, when do you plan on doin a vin jaune episode?

  3. July 13, 2008

    daniel schlossberg

    i had the marques de riscal, and it was gross, and i love rioja so i totally agree with garys comments. very madicinaly and laytexy from what i remember. NOT GOOD, and as i said i love rioja…

  4. November 12, 2007

    vivaitalia

    oh, and the riscal wasn’t the first spanish I had, it was the 01 termes (freaking awesome). Those two wines are terrible but the reservas of the caceras can be good, (00, 04)

  5. November 12, 2007

    vivaitalia

    Oh easy, my favorite spanish wine of all time is the ‘04 numanthia. I’ve never found such a pure, focused and structured wine (especially at $45). My next, probably the artadi sellecion especial. Spain is about 70% of what I drink right now, the qpr is unmatched,even of the high end. The campo viejo reserva rioja is an excellent entry level especially for the new world drinkers looking to expand their horizons (’02). People please don’t be discouraged by those crappy entry level wines, there are some stellar offerings from rioja in the 10-15 range.

  6. August 17, 2007

    Brad M

    You were totally right about the 2002 Marques Des Riscal (at least the bottle I got). It was one of the first wines I bought since I started watching your show. I hadn’t gotten to this episode yet and I bought the wine because it was the only Rioja that the nearest liquor store carried! I got the Riscal and a 2004 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir Bourgogne. Not going back there again!

    I let the wine breathe for a couple hours to give it a fair chance. As I first smelled the bottle to check for any corkiness, I immediately shook my head and started laughing because it was so close to what you described. What a shame.
    The 2002 Riscal I got did have that aniseptic, medical office odor about it. I was going into it with an open mind (and nose) and man, if you weren’t right on the money.
    During tasting, I sensed a delayed and muted front end with almost no mid-palate whatsoever and not much of a finish, either. Really nothing there to hold onto at all. I could barely finish the amount I poured in the glass!

    I’ll be treading a little more carefully from now on, especially considering the ridiculous markup in Brooklyn (and Manhattan).
    Thanks again, Gary.

  7. August 8, 2007

    GrapeStuff

    QOTD: Good call GV, the Marques de Riscal was the first Spanish wine I had. Impressive.

  8. July 6, 2007

    Kelly

    I personally think the Marques Des Riscal is a pretty damn good wine for $10 bucks, that’s what a local shop has it at. I see the vegetal notes that you have, not the dentist office funk though. I thought the wine had a nice spice too it as well as a thick texture which was impressive with earth-forward fruit. I’,m not saying this is a great bottle, but it’s better than 75, I would say 85 at least. I think you were biased in this selection Gary, sadly it’s one of the first time I’ve seen this from you. I will be cracking another bottle soon to make sure I was right on this.

  9. March 24, 2007

    Alicia Garijo

    Gary,
    We just finished a bottle of Lopez de Heredia Reserva with our 2:00 meal, a Chicken breast in a pepper sauce. It is as you say a great food wine and a lot of chocolate covered cherry comes through. Let’s get more of the Vinos Españoles on here. You are fantastic and it is a real treat watching you from Pamplona Spain (Close to the Rioja Wine Country) but you must experience some Vinos from Navarra also, I think you would find some very interesting quality for the price.
    A fan
    Alicia Garijo

  10. March 9, 2007

    Kamikaze

    Best ? 1971 Vega Sicilia Unico, drank in 1997 during a business dinner. Perfect wine !

    Next ? 03´CLIO

  11. February 28, 2007

    Bill

    We love the ‘04 Pedrosa. Ready to drink NOW. ’03’s are good, too, but a little tight — needs a bit more decanting.

  12. February 19, 2007

    sheila

    Favorite spanish wine…El Nido ‘03. Next drinking wine…El Nido Clio ‘03!!! Always GREAT!!!
    Also, I was lucky enough to drink my first Spanish wine in Spain…the Marques de Caceras Rioja.

  13. February 19, 2007

    Jim H

    Salceda – Conde De La Salceda 1987 (pretty sure) or 1989. Have to check the bottle because it’s sitting on top of my China Cabinet. Others came close but this was tremendous. Also had some good experiences with Finca Valpiedra ‘95 and Reyes 1994 after the bubbles went away. Allende 2001 Reserve nice but some 2001’s need time.

  14. February 18, 2007

    J Crazy

    Awesome! lovin’ the Spanish wines. QOTD1: Nope, first I had was Baron De Ley. QOTD2: and I liked the Baron De Ley. Also 2005 Maximo was killer.
    How about a “Question of the Comments”?!? QOTC: Where were you and who were you with when you drank your first Spanish wine? I was with my wife and my boss and her family. It was at a Christmas party two years ago. At least that is all I remember of it.

  15. February 17, 2007

    Luis

    I think that with your comment on Marqués de Riscal you are keeping away many people from spanish wines, as that is probably the only spanish wine you may find in many restaurants. And the 2001 is really spectacular just for the same price as the 2002. You should fix that, Gary.

  16. February 15, 2007

    Michael

    The first spanish wine I ever tried and blew me away, was Roda I 1998. What a magnificient wine that was!

  17. February 15, 2007

    George F

    The wine that really changed my world was a 1970 CUNE Gran Reserva, purchased maybe in ‘84. I found a dusty case of it in the basement of the old Sam’s Wine shop in Chicago. I think it was under $8 a bottle. Absolutely stunning. My friend whom I’ve shared a decades long battle of wine upmanship still talks about it today. It totally blew away the 4th growth Bordeaux’s that we were barely able to afford at the time. Riojas and Spanish wines in general continue to provide great value.

  18. February 14, 2007

    ThomasS

    Fun, you can even get the Marques de Caceres and Marques de Riscal over here … . I think this de Caceres is OK, it’s an nice wine for its price and it proves that 90% of wines available are too expensive for what they have to offer. It’s possible to make a decent bottle of wine for this price, so, if you can’t don’t ;-) . Also, their Gran reserva’s are quite good (the 1998 was remarkable in QPR).
    Anyway: QOTD: I am not that into Spanish wine. I know they can be great, but, I don’t know … maybe I just always took the wrong turn right in the wine shop. So, favourite … nah, I can’t say I have one. A nice one I had three months ago was a Priorat Sangenis i Vaqué Por. Very Old World, austere and dirty, but great in complexity. The next one I want to try is a Cims de Porrera. I want to know what the buzz is all about. C ya!

  19. February 14, 2007

    JimVarney01

    Lol, funny how all the comments mention the cutie pie in the beginning. Is this just someone you hired so you can get more comments??? What a clever trick!

    QOTD… I can’t even remember what my first… I think it was a Montecilla or something like that. Wwasn’t that good for a $25 price tag. Have had many more Riojas after that and I love them!! Most recent one was allende and I thought it was great!!! Very complex.

  20. February 14, 2007

    wino

    QOTD- Yup, 2001 Riscal Reserva was my first and I really like it. Will obviously stay away from the 2002. If in public you gave it a 75, in private it would be…….

    QOTD2- Have had the Ercavio, is that from Spain?

    Who was the woman in the episode? Your wife? Your mistress? Sister? Single? Looking?

  21. February 13, 2007

    Doc Brown

    I brought the Gloria de Ostatu to the Farmhouse Inn Restaurant in Sonoma (unbelievable food….a must in the wine country)last year and paired it with the best rack of venison I have ever had. The wine was amazing, in fact, I shared a glass with the sommelier (who is a huge Spanish wine fan). He had never had the Ostatu before but went on and on about it. At the end of the meal he brought out a glass of 1997 Dows Vintage Port for both my wife and myself on the house! Hint: always think about sharing with the sommelier……they appreciate it and you never know what “suprise” they may bring you. I agree with you Gary…RP missed the boat with this one.

  22. February 13, 2007

    Lawrence Leichtman

    My first Spanish wine was CUNE and still one of my favorite Riojas thoiugh since 1970 I have spent time in Spain and came to appreciate so many. Had a memorable dinner at El Bulli with the fixed price wine and food pairing. Lost track of what I was tasting with the volume of wonderful food and wine. Spain has it all for me. Gary, didn’t you go to El Bulli last year? Still haven’t mentioned who the young woman was.

  23. February 13, 2007

    kenito799

    Since visiting Spain I have been drinking lots of Spanish wine so I was psyched to see this episode. Like other people leaving comments, I was surprised at how bad you found the 02 Riscal, since the 01 is very good IMO. I was happy since I have the 98 Lopez Tondonia Reserva in my wine fridge, along with the 95 Tondonia Rosado and 96 Bosconia (which I have tried and loved–crazy young and fresh tasting for a 10 year old wine). I love how well good Rioja is able to integrate all that oak.
    My favorite Riojas this year were 98 Bodegas Vinicola Real 200 Monges Reserva and 02 Marques de Tomares Crianza (which was excellent despite the supposedly bad vintage).
    The next Spanish wine I will drink will probably be 01 Rotllan Torra Priorat to see if I like it and want to buy more.
    Shows on Priorat, Montsant, Emporda? Jumilla, Toro, Bierzo? Albarinos and white Ruedas? and Jerez, of course? I hope so…

  24. February 13, 2007

    R. Beaudin

    Gotcha! Gran Reserva is 5 years .. with two in barrel! (Not that the world will change in any way:-)
    Ok .. hey .you should have told me you were coming to Boston. I did attend the Grand Cru Lounge…and likely, won’t do that again next year. Now ..some nice wines ..some vintage Port (Niepoort 77,Warre 80), some decent Bordeaux (Fombrauge), and some good Valpolicella/Amarone), but overall very expensive and a bit disappointing.

    To be honest .. haven’t had a really good Spanish bottle in a while. Have had some reasonably good values like Tres picos, etc., but nothing outstanding. Do have some Clos Erasmus that i haven’t opened yet .. so will give that a try.

  25. February 13, 2007

    TagWorld Brian

    Thanks, EataPC. Here are my very brief tasting notes on the Conde de Valdemar: “Fruity (cherry) aroma and taste, medium-heavy oak. Tannic, but not overly. A great food wine, not so much for sipping.” But I’d go back and amend that by saying that it opened up really nicely the next day, after being in the fridge overnight. It became nicer to sip. And I think I recall Costco is plugging this wine as a WS 90 or 91? Not totally sure on that, but anyway, a great value. But like everything, it just depends whether you like it.

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