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

Pages: « 6 5 4 [3] 2 1 » Show All

February 12, 2007

stewart l
QOD- My favorite wine from Spain I have had was the 1999 Numanthia Termes from Toro. Plus I still have 3 bottles left. I would like to try some more wines from Jumilla area and higher end Rioja like the one today.
February 12, 2007

Matt W
Best Spanish wine I’ve ever had? On my budget, 2002 or 2004 Las Rocas Granacha. Very drinkable any time, tons of fruit, tasty and interesting but not too serious. Cushions and fills your mouth with soft cherries…and it’s CHEAP!

In fact, I just put back a bottle the other night. Grad student’s dream.
February 12, 2007

MiamiDolphins
Great Episode

QOD 1: Protos Crianza
February 12, 2007

jae
I’ve never had a rioja wine. My next and first bottle will be the Ercavio Tempranillo (I can’t afford better because I’m a poor college student).
February 12, 2007

dwildman
QOTD 2: Bellum Providencia

QOTD 2a: Next bottle will be Sierra Cantabria Cuvee Especial – lovely wine

And ok, who is the blonde? The wine world wonders…
February 12, 2007

Dale Cruse
Gary: I think rather than “MassHead,” the word you’re looking for is, “MassHole.”

QOTD: False. Marques de Cacerces was my first Rioja. I recently enjoyed a Torrontes. Fantastic nose. I’m thinking that might be a lovely white to cook with to add even more complex aromas to my food.
February 12, 2007

OttawaB
Good show today, I love Rioja wines. However, am not a fan of the Marques’ wines. Will try the Lopez de Heredia wine soon (although a different one then you tried).
Best Spanish wine I hve tried was a 2002 Flor di Pingus, and an Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi. Although I also usually enjoy the Torres Mas La Plana, and Lan Gran Reserva, Alion, and most Pesquera brands.
February 12, 2007

Dave Canada
Nice…
had a 1995 Rioja Grand Reserva that was nice and an Altos Jumilla 2003 that was quite good.
February 12, 2007

Lil Luce
QOTD: Favorite???? I think it is a tie between a Muga Rioja Blanco and the Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero. But the Muga Rioja Blanco was during a great afternoon in a tapas bar overlooking the Sea in a little town near Malaga…so the experience really helped. I also loved the 1 + 1 = 3 Cava, because it had a little more toast & cream flavors than some of the other chalky tasting cheap, dry Cavas.

Sub QOTD: Just yesterday, I bought a 1996 Prado Enea Gran Reserva from Bodegas Muga. I plan to drink it with friends over the weekend and will let you all know what I think.

Thanks for the great ep, Gary!
February 12, 2007

RMD
GV: I was at the Boston Wine Expo as well, and I completely agree… poor showing from a lot of wineries.

I did have a few jems though, including an excellent Merlot from White Oak winery.

It also made me mad how packed the place was… I got there at 1:30 and waited for over 40 minutes to get in. Once inside, several wineries had already run out of their best bottles.

The Grand Tasting is a complete rip-off… so you didn’t miss much, other than a drain on your wallet.

I’m pissed I didn’t see you! Oh well.
February 12, 2007

Jack:)
QOTD1: False
QOTD2: Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2004 very good.
Are we going to find out what the extra camera and the babe were there for?
Great show.
February 12, 2007

dabo
QOTD — I don’t remember. However, I have the ‘04 Ercavio Tempranillo and the ‘01 Marques De Riscal Rioja Reserva in my wine fridge waiting for me to taste. After that performance of the ‘02 today, I sure hope TheGraveWolf is right about the ‘01. Tasting that ‘02 just looked utterly painful…
February 12, 2007

Bill Ross
So many good ones … Cims de Porrrera Priorat comes to mind, but if price considered, then Muga 2001 Rioja Reserva stands out. UP next will be 2003 Alejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera from Ribero del Duero, for an on-line tasting this Thursday. I am knee deep in quality Spanish wines from WL, but run from the below $10/above 90pt RP QPR wines!
February 12, 2007

boyd
CW, contact me at boyd.pearson@gmail.com

I’m not exactly sure I follow what you’re saying. Sorry, I’m dumb when it comes to stuff likes this. All I know is that GA can bite me too. I’m ready for us to move into the 20th century. Everyone else is already two centuries ahead of us. We’re at like 1897 right now.
February 12, 2007

Brookhouser
Sad that there are confused wines out there…..confused wines are like Lurkers…they just don’t know were there going and they never show themselves….what’s with the Viral in the background….and your lady friend….and the numbers….still don’t get it…..I think I am a confused wine…!

QOTD: Haven’t had much yet..bought a Sierra Cantabria Rioja to try
February 12, 2007

Bohi
To continue my last comment, you guys should get together with Threadless for some cross promotion. A WLTV loves Threadless contest would be kickin rad.
February 12, 2007

Rick E
Thanks for highlighting Spain–Priorat and Jumilla are probably my favorite regions on the planet at the moment. Great value, good old world/new world options, top-notch quality. Coincidentally I have the Finca Luzon in my glass as I watched your episode.

QOTD: either the ‘04 Clio or the ‘01 Cims De Porrera. The ‘01 Muga Torre is up there too.
February 12, 2007

E
Positively Rex Grossmanesque with that cork there.

By the way, WRONG! OK, not really. First Spanish wine was actually a Montecillo, or if you want to get in the wayback machine, my dad always seemed to have a bottle of Tio Pepe lying around …

QOD: 2001 Domenio de Tares Bierzo, unlike anything I’d ever had before. Not bad for the last bottle of the night. Next, probably another Bierzo unless I decide to crack the Valsacro already.
February 12, 2007

Bohi
Haha I see someone there shops at Threadless. I too shop at Threadless. A WLTV
February 12, 2007

JavaMonkey
Lesson of the day: Rioja under $20 sucks. Thanks for the warning.

QOTD: I’ve never had a really outstanding Spanish wine, but my favorite is probably the 2004 Ercavio Tempranillo. The next Spanish wine I have will probably be a 2004 Tres Picos, since I have a bottle of that on deck.
February 12, 2007

leatherpalate
QOD:1994 Marques de Caceres Gran Riserva
(in 02-03) it was quite good so much so that
my father bought about 5 cases now it’s a little
past it’s prime and we give them to friends at
dinner parties. “1994 wow”- good times…
February 12, 2007

Terrance
My best spanish wine award is a two-way tie between a Pesquera Crianza 2001 that I drank on my birthday the year before last and a mystery memory wine. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about… something you drank at a friend’s house or a somewhere when you knew even less about wine than you know now. What I do know is that it was an affordable Rioja that a wine-loving friend paired with a dinner he had cooked over five years ago. It was barnyard all the way.
February 12, 2007

JonE
Great analysis of the Caceres G-Man. Perhaps next time a little Sierra Cantabria and Muga? And yes I am in fact very fearful of Jersey garbage.

QOTD:First Spanish wine, wish I could remember, but it must have been a good night.
QOTD2: Old Condado de Haza, cannot remember the vintage but it was super. Next Spanish will probably be Vall Llach Embruix? or maybe Sierra Contabria Crianza, the 01’s seem just beautiful now.
February 12, 2007

Dmjperc
Gary,

I have been trying Spanish wines alot in the last 2 months. The 2002 Marques De Riscal Rioja was ot my first though.

QOTD: Last night I had a spanish wine that ranks right up there with my favorites. It was 2004 Tomas Cusine Geol Costers del Segre, which I believe is Tomas Cusine’s estate grown wine. I have been really impressed with this wine as well as the 2004 Vilosell by the same vinyard.
February 12, 2007

GeneV
I’m in the 12%, because I recent had a 1996 Lopez de Heredica Bosconia, which was even lighter and more brick-like that the one tasted here, and I loved it. Believe it or not, it was perfect with seafood Paella.

My first Spanish wine was from a 25 cent bottle in Spain.
My first Spanish wine tasted in the US was a 1970 Rioja Cerro Anon–My notes say all wood!
My next Spanish wine–possibly a 1968 Vina Valoria Rioja Consecha.

Can’t say what my best one was.