EP 239 Rioja Wine. Everyone is Asking So Here You Go!

I don’t remember being requested for a certain area of wines more then the mad push for Rioja in the last few weeks, so here we go!

Wines tasted in this episode:

1981 Lopez De Heredia Tondonia Blanco Rioja Gran ReservaRioja
Bodegas Montecillo Rioja RedRioja
2001 Rioja Vega ReservaRioja
2003 Torre Muga RiojaRioja

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Krishna Patel

CKC @ Virginia Tech! Come visit us soon!!!

Tags: red wines, review, Rioja, Spain, Video, white wines, wine, wines

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  • HomerJ

    QOD: I’ve been eyeing this for some times now

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=2136

  • HomerJ

    QOD: I’ve been eyeing this for some times now

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=2136

  • Kevin

    QOTD: I always wanted to try that 2003 Corte Riva Merlot from Episode 96. It sounded delicious.

  • Kevin

    QOTD: I always wanted to try that 2003 Corte Riva Merlot from Episode 96. It sounded delicious.

  • Sasha

    First time, long time! Have been lurking for about a month and a half now. It’s time to step out of the shadows!!

    QOTD…With all the talk lately of the 2005 bordeaux’s and while I am tempted to open up some of the 2005 futures that i’ve purchased as soon as they arrive, i’m going to say that number one on the list would have to be a 1982 first growth more than any other wine right now.

  • Sasha

    First time, long time! Have been lurking for about a month and a half now. It’s time to step out of the shadows!!

    QOTD…With all the talk lately of the 2005 bordeaux’s and while I am tempted to open up some of the 2005 futures that i’ve purchased as soon as they arrive, i’m going to say that number one on the list would have to be a 1982 first growth more than any other wine right now.

  • Kevin

    QOTD Cont.: And the Chateau Henye Tokaji Aszueszencia. I’ve never had a Tokaji…

  • Kevin

    QOTD Cont.: And the Chateau Henye Tokaji Aszueszencia. I’ve never had a Tokaji…

  • Gary,

    Congrats on another great show.

    Also, congrats on the article in the NY Times.

    In spirit with you advice from the article,

    http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/32107/

    I’d like to try something from Portugal.

    Sounds like this was your favorite wine from episode #232

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=30711

  • Gary,

    Congrats on another great show.

    Also, congrats on the article in the NY Times.

    In spirit with you advice from the article,

    http://nymag.com/restaurants/features/32107/

    I’d like to try something from Portugal.

    Sounds like this was your favorite wine from episode #232

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=30711

  • johnm

    I’ll save this until our 30th anniversary and drink it 6/23/09

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=23266

  • E

    Odd question. I suppose 25-year-old white wines in clear bottles would satisfy that one for sure, but then there’s Savennieres (never got around to pulling the trigger on any), Schioppettino from Friuli, Joguet with some age on it, Huet Vouvray, or serious CNDP.

    But what do I want to see YOU taste? This!

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=32028

  • johnm

    I’ll save this until our 30th anniversary and drink it 6/23/09

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=23266

  • E

    Odd question. I suppose 25-year-old white wines in clear bottles would satisfy that one for sure, but then there’s Savennieres (never got around to pulling the trigger on any), Schioppettino from Friuli, Joguet with some age on it, Huet Vouvray, or serious CNDP.

    But what do I want to see YOU taste? This!

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=32028

  • Tom H

    Great show
    QOTD I have had my eye on Jasper Hill Shiraz winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=9159
    Someday I will come up with a good reason to pull the trigger

  • Tom H

    Great show
    QOTD I have had my eye on Jasper Hill Shiraz winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=9159
    Someday I will come up with a good reason to pull the trigger

  • stevek1510

    QOTD…after watching your trip to France, this is the one…
    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=7595

  • wm mole

    Glad to have you back GV. Nice heart!!
    I would love to try any of your 93-94+ scored wines, especially old/new world balanced types french/spanish. Also, a Molitor riesling just for kicks.

  • stevek1510

    QOTD…after watching your trip to France, this is the one…
    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=7595

  • wm mole

    Glad to have you back GV. Nice heart!!
    I would love to try any of your 93-94+ scored wines, especially old/new world balanced types french/spanish. Also, a Molitor riesling just for kicks.

  • wm mole

    Also , we love you too!

  • wm mole

    Also , we love you too!

  • Boston Ben

    I haven’t been a fan at all of the Montecillo – doesn’t put a notch in Caceras if you’re looking for value Rioja. I wonder if the Montecillo Reserva is any better? (I keep eye-balling this without being inspired to purchase it.)

    QOTD: This is just a passing desire, but I’m a huge fan of the J.J. Prum Kabinett Riesling, and I’ve had a lot of trouble getting into desert wines that appeal to me. I’d love to try one of the J.J. Prum Ausleses (I know, not technically a desert wine, but gettin’ there) – but the $45+ tag is a bit prohibitive.

    Not much in the way of online reviews unfortunately! Just one on Cork’d for the Graacher Himmelreich:

    http://www.corkd.com/wine/view/20959-Joh__Jos__Prum_Graacher_Himmelreich_Auslese

  • Boston Ben

    I haven’t been a fan at all of the Montecillo – doesn’t put a notch in Caceras if you’re looking for value Rioja. I wonder if the Montecillo Reserva is any better? (I keep eye-balling this without being inspired to purchase it.)

    QOTD: This is just a passing desire, but I’m a huge fan of the J.J. Prum Kabinett Riesling, and I’ve had a lot of trouble getting into desert wines that appeal to me. I’d love to try one of the J.J. Prum Ausleses (I know, not technically a desert wine, but gettin’ there) – but the $45+ tag is a bit prohibitive.

    Not much in the way of online reviews unfortunately! Just one on Cork’d for the Graacher Himmelreich:

    http://www.corkd.com/wine/view/20959-Joh__Jos__Prum_Graacher_Himmelreich_Auslese

  • Autumnfox

    Dude! You rock!!! Muchas gracias for the riojas. You have no idea how many times I came to this WLTV page just to see maybe just maybe you somehow got a show taped this weekend. With this QOTD, I literaly have spent an hour making my Xmas list of wines. Oh you made me feel like a kid in a candy store…sigh. To be honest, I have a hard time deciding on one wine…I wanna taste it ALL!

    I would let you choose to be honest…Thanks Gary!

  • Autumnfox

    Dude! You rock!!! Muchas gracias for the riojas. You have no idea how many times I came to this WLTV page just to see maybe just maybe you somehow got a show taped this weekend. With this QOTD, I literaly have spent an hour making my Xmas list of wines. Oh you made me feel like a kid in a candy store…sigh. To be honest, I have a hard time deciding on one wine…I wanna taste it ALL!

    I would let you choose to be honest…Thanks Gary!

  • TommyBoBo of WI

    Good to have you back,, but I’m going to hold back a few dimes for your callous disregard of our friendship…….. 🙁
    =)
    I’d love you to try the 2000 Sansonnet,,, Oh wait,, you can’t because you don’t have it in yet…. or at least you haven’t shipped MINE to me yet!!!

    Where’s my Wine,,,Where’s my Wine,,,,
    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=20838

  • TommyBoBo of WI

    Good to have you back,, but I’m going to hold back a few dimes for your callous disregard of our friendship…….. 🙁
    =)
    I’d love you to try the 2000 Sansonnet,,, Oh wait,, you can’t because you don’t have it in yet…. or at least you haven’t shipped MINE to me yet!!!

    Where’s my Wine,,,Where’s my Wine,,,,
    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=20838

  • Corvette Tony

    Gary,

    Great to have you back!

    QOTD: Chateau Lafite Rothschild – the one wine that I’ve heard and read so much about but have never had the opportunity to try in the 20 years since I’ve gotten into wine.

  • Corvette Tony

    Gary,

    Great to have you back!

    QOTD: Chateau Lafite Rothschild – the one wine that I’ve heard and read so much about but have never had the opportunity to try in the 20 years since I’ve gotten into wine.

  • leatherpalate

    One of the classic 1st growths from a classic vintage
    that would be epic.

  • MikeyB

    QOTD: After watching Bourdeaux episodes, dying to try a le gay:

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=30245

  • leatherpalate

    One of the classic 1st growths from a classic vintage
    that would be epic.

  • MikeyB

    QOTD: After watching Bourdeaux episodes, dying to try a le gay:

    http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=30245

  • Darlene O.

    Great to have you back, Gary! Super episode! I’m a fan of Riojas. QOD: Would love to taste a 1957 Latour….

  • Darlene O.

    Great to have you back, Gary! Super episode! I’m a fan of Riojas. QOD: Would love to taste a 1957 Latour….

  • wildebeest

    Gary,

    Good to see you back! I’m really looking forward to the SF meetup.

    QOTD: WL code 29721

    I’ve yet to delve into the world of riesling, and this one looks like it would be an exceptional introduction, to say the least.

    I threw my first wine party last night. The stars of the evening were the 2004 Les Verrieres Clos Des Soutyeres Coteaux Du Languedoc, the 2004 Majella Sparkling Shiraz, the 2004 Victoria Dominio De Longaz, and the 2003 Villacreces Ribera Del Duero. We also had some of the Twenty Rows Grappler, and a bottle of the $12 Contado Aglionico you recommended a while back. People were blown away, and it was a ton of fun. Thanks, man!

  • wildebeest

    Gary,

    Good to see you back! I’m really looking forward to the SF meetup.

    QOTD: WL code 29721

    I’ve yet to delve into the world of riesling, and this one looks like it would be an exceptional introduction, to say the least.

    I threw my first wine party last night. The stars of the evening were the 2004 Les Verrieres Clos Des Soutyeres Coteaux Du Languedoc, the 2004 Majella Sparkling Shiraz, the 2004 Victoria Dominio De Longaz, and the 2003 Villacreces Ribera Del Duero. We also had some of the Twenty Rows Grappler, and a bottle of the $12 Contado Aglionico you recommended a while back. People were blown away, and it was a ton of fun. Thanks, man!

  • Karol

    Welcome back!

    QOTD: Want to try something expensive Merlot to see how it compares to the moderate priced Merlot.

  • Karol

    Welcome back!

    QOTD: Want to try something expensive Merlot to see how it compares to the moderate priced Merlot.

  • Jim in Atlanta

    QOTD: Being a huge pinot fan I would like to try any world class red burgundy. My QOTD: A woman at a recent wine tasting called me a wine whore. She said it was a compliment. Should I be happy or insulted?

  • Jim in Atlanta

    QOTD: Being a huge pinot fan I would like to try any world class red burgundy. My QOTD: A woman at a recent wine tasting called me a wine whore. She said it was a compliment. Should I be happy or insulted?

  • Mike Hale

    QOTD: I want to try either a Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon or a Delille D2

  • Mike Hale

    QOTD: I want to try either a Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon or a Delille D2

  • geespot

    Welcome back G! Just one thing…promise never to forsake us again! I’ll be landing in Newark Int’l in about 12 hours, and I have my shopping list ready. That ’81 would be a really cool gift for my buddy’s birthday present for this Sunday, we’re all a bunch of ’81 kids ourselves. Just might have to grab it when I drop by the store on Wed or Thur.

    QOD: I really need to get my hands on some good 2000 Bordeaux, preferably St. Emilion, Pauillac, and Margaux before I start shopping for 2005, that’s way on the top of my list of wines to taste. If 2000 blows me away, I’ll stock up on ’05 for sure.

  • geespot

    Welcome back G! Just one thing…promise never to forsake us again! I’ll be landing in Newark Int’l in about 12 hours, and I have my shopping list ready. That ’81 would be a really cool gift for my buddy’s birthday present for this Sunday, we’re all a bunch of ’81 kids ourselves. Just might have to grab it when I drop by the store on Wed or Thur.

    QOD: I really need to get my hands on some good 2000 Bordeaux, preferably St. Emilion, Pauillac, and Margaux before I start shopping for 2005, that’s way on the top of my list of wines to taste. If 2000 blows me away, I’ll stock up on ’05 for sure.

  • Good to have you back Gary, we missed you and we’ll miss you tomorrow night at Bern’s. You’ll have to check out the report in the forums. Maybe someday you’ll join us there.

    As for the QOTD, like SoCal, I too have bee eying this https://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=32349.

  • Good to have you back Gary, we missed you and we’ll miss you tomorrow night at Bern’s. You’ll have to check out the report in the forums. Maybe someday you’ll join us there.

    As for the QOTD, like SoCal, I too have bee eying this https://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=32349.

  • Robin

    Good to see you again; I was worried about you.

    I’d like to taste a wine from Harlan Estate or Screaming Eagle.

  • Robin

    Good to see you again; I was worried about you.

    I’d like to taste a wine from Harlan Estate or Screaming Eagle.

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