Rioja Wines – Episode #180

February 12, 2007

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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February 12, 2007

Nathan L
Yup, sorry Gary. You missed the boat. My 1st Spanish was the Marques de Carceres. Best one I haven’t had is a tie between the 2003 Clio and 2004 Palacios Petalos Bierzo but I haven’t had a lot of experience with great Spanish wine until 6 monthes ago. The next one will probably be my last bottle of 03 Torremoron (my favorite 10 dollar bottle).
February 12, 2007

Bear Down
Gary,

Nice one. Thank you for tasting the Lopez. They are a great producer. I hope it can sway some the New World viewer into some Old World wines and classic flavors.

QOTD: 1971 Unico, Vega Sicilia. Unfortuneately is was at a walk around tasting so I had to enjoy my small poor in a crowd of people. I’ll take it though, as I can’t afford to buy a bottle and enjoy it with dinner. It was truly world class, and still quite youthful to be honest. Another 20 years not problem.
February 12, 2007

E-Rock
Oh by the way Sangre de Toro was my first Spanish wine.
February 12, 2007

E-Rock
2003 Clio…..Just had a bottle on Saturday. I love Spanish wine.Probably drink it 3 times a week. Luzon, Abad dom Bueno, Juan Gil, Bodegas Arrocal and LAN Edicion Limitada just to name a few.
February 12, 2007

Karen Lorentz
I guess I have to join the El Nido Clio 04 contingent as the best Spanish wine I’ve ever had. The next one will probably be Legaris Crianza 2003.

And the first Spanish wine I had was not Marques de Riscal, but Maques de Caceras Riserva 1994 (5?) (whichever was the better year!)
February 12, 2007

SoCal
Gary,
Dude the look on your grill when you had the Marques de Riscal was Fâ€™n classic!
It sounds so bad I wouldnâ€™t even wash my ride with itâ€¦.
You had me rollinâ€¦.
To bad you have to explain your pan to them.
Then again maybe this is a wake up call to step up their game.

QOTD: Just getting into Spanish wines. (again the Can Blau was real nice) But still learning.
February 12, 2007

CW
QOTD: in 1982 a 1977 Codorniu Gran Reserve, one of my first wines, purchased and drunk in ALABAMA. It was years before I could drink champagne and not think it was inferior.
February 12, 2007

Like 'em Rounded and Aged
Just read some of the comments to episode #180. Looks like the eye candy insert is paying off. Marriage proposals are probably coming her way too.

A friend of mine was once asked what his dream girl was, and he responded with “A tall, hot, blonde nymphomaniac whose family owns a chain of liquor stores.” For the would-be suitors, any chance the blonde is in the equity at WineLibrary?
February 12, 2007

Badger Ann
QOTD: The last Spanish wine I drank was 2005 Biurko Gorri Rioja Arbanta. Light in color, but not in taste! This is a great one to enjoy with tapas. I recently purchased some bottles of 2005 Finca Luzon Jumillia – I’ll try one of these next.

Marques de Caceres was my 1st Spanish wine, way back in 1998. ehhh…
February 12, 2007

Lev M
we need more spanish wine episodes like this with other regions…that was fun

QOTD- some wine i dont remember that someone brought from costa brava… i love wines from there.
Next spanish wine will probably be a bierzo.
February 12, 2007

Dominus
Geez, last Spanish wine I had was the Clio based on your recommendation. I really like the Berandanga and the next Spanish wine I hope to try is the last one you reviewed, da Gloria.

Great show as always, especially your “fan club” who showed up.

BTW, your guys in shipping are amazing.
February 12, 2007

Russ J
Interesting ep, GV. The young lady was…interesting as well. Can’t resist a great smile!

QOTD: Favorite, the 2001 Jarrarte Rioja purchased at WL in ‘05. One left. Next Spanish wine I will have is probably that ‘04 Ercavio you touted a while back. I keep some around for smooth and easy quaffing.
February 12, 2007

Patt
Alabama has wine?
February 12, 2007

Brooklyn Paul
QOTD: The ‘04 Clio was probably the best I ever had. It will probably be my next one as well. I do have a bottle of 2005 Almira Campo de Borja Los Dos, which is slated as a weekday wine, so maybe that will be next.

Good show. So… is somebody doing a feature on you and Wine Library? Is that why the other camera was there and why the umm…., “reporter” was in the room?
February 12, 2007

Kathy
Just this week I had the Marques de Caceres and was not impressed. Will try some of the suggestions in the replys. Thanks
February 12, 2007

mbannon
Whoa, who’s the girl?!!?! Yowza!

QOD – The 2002 Castano Hecula. I wasn’t expecting much from a $9 wine in an off year, and this just knocked my socks off. My next Spanish wine just might be the Tondonia you just reviewed – sounds interesting.
February 12, 2007

QueSeraSyrah
QOD- 2003 Numanthia… Next up to try: 2001 Torre Muga or 2004 El Nido Clio

Great episode! I enjoy Lopez de Heredia quite a bit and enjoy the fact that they don’t release until they feel the wine is ready, resulting in wine’s being released 20+ years after harvest and still being able to age for another 10-20+ years (speaking of the Gran Reservas of course). I definitely agree with the comment that this winery’s wines are made to be appreciated with food as well as to compliment the food that you chose to have with this wine.
February 12, 2007

Brian W
Gary,

Great episode! long time lurker, first ever comment just feeling it today.
February 12, 2007

cpd
I am afraid of that Jersey garbage….

I’m also embarrassed to say I’ve never had a Spanish wine. Great episode, Gary!
February 12, 2007

NY Pete
Love Espana. QOD… the best so far San Roman 2001… was enjoying Allende 2001 while watching this episode… Best bang for your Spanish buck, try Prima 2004 made by the same guys that do San Roman.
February 12, 2007

Orion Slayer
QOTD: I have not had a Spanish wine yet. However, my first will be a 2001 Luna Beberide Tierras De Luna that I bought from WineLibrary. I’ll let you know!

Thanks for opening with the shot of the beautiful lady. In fairness, you should have had a handsome man in the room too (you and Eric don’t fit the bill!)
February 12, 2007

CW
Boyd,
See if you can get a WL local to pick up your wine at WL in a ship ready box. If you have an account with UPS you can email the airbill. Then they can drop off at work or UPS store or something. Of course you’d need to be ‘friendly’ with them first. FYI A wine store, NOT THE WINE LIBRARY, that I use, allows me to send UPS airbill stickers in the mail to them without that wine shop on the ‘From’ part of the label (I use the local UPS store as the from address) and they slap it on my box and it gets picked up by UPS with the other packages. GA can bite me.
February 12, 2007

Susan
Gary -
QOD:
First/Best Spanish Wine I had was 2004 Juan Gil Mouvedre
(hint – still drinking it!).
Great ep!
I will try more spanish wines soon!
February 12, 2007

TheGraveWolf
Gary,

Great work on the video blog… Keep the updates coming. It’s not too surprising that the 2002 Marques De Riscal Rioja Reserva is a poor wine considering, as you said, the 2002 vintage is something to avoid in Riojas. Perhaps your spanish wine buyer should be made aware of that (hint hint) and not carry that year.

The 2001 Marques De Riscal Rioja Reserva is a FANTASTIC wine!

I would love to see you try it, or at least carry the ‘01 instead of the dreaded ‘02. Probably my favorite Rioja I have found priced under $20. I know the stores around my area still are carrying a decent amount of the ‘01 and I would really recommend you ditch those ’02s in favor of the ‘01. Keep up the good work.
February 12, 2007

boyd
Best Spanish wine I’ve had is Mas Doix ‘01. Next wine is 2004 Alonso del Yerro Ribera del Duero.

Still sad in the ATL.