A Wines of Rioja tasting.

Was fortunate to be able to help with a Rioja tasting last week at DeVine Wines downtown. 36 sit down, $35 per head, ably lead by Dirk and Annabelle who had just returned from Spain.

Reception wine was the 2004 Lopez de Heredia Blanco Vina Gravonia Crianza. Nice choice, classic, great balance, fennel, almond nose. Grapefruit and nutty, not that oxidised. $40 Cdn

2013 Sierra de Tolono Tinto Roble. New name for me, 100% Tempranillo. Fresh nose, quite dry, not that fruity. Some noted cherry and spice. Pass. $26.

2010 CVNE Reserva. Roasted meat on the nose, smooth, far more complex than wine above. $30.

2001 Faustino I Gran Reserva. Nice color rainbow..hot finish I thought? Pepper, plum, red cherry, herbal. Showed better than a BBQ last year, quite popular....$45.

2002 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva. Ready to go, soft tannins, not the greatest vintage. Red fruits, leather tones. $55

2009 Contino Reserva. My WOTN, $40. $$$ steal, decanted and opened 3 hrs. Stinky earthy leathery nose. Yum. lively acidity, smooth tannins...a must buy for me!

2001 Bodegas Vinicola Real 200 Monges Gran Reserva. Lots of excitement by many present but not sure why? $83. Needs time, not for me .

Nice line-up there, Bob, and good TNs. Mature Imperial, Viña Real and Contino, all from CVNE, are my favourites, though some experts claim that Imperial has fallen off after the 1994 vintage; I don't have enough experience to comment. Was the CVNE Imperial, Viña Real or something else?. No mention in any of the TNs of a lot of vanilla or other oaky excesses; that is encouraging.

CNVE Reserva Tim.
If oak and vanilla were there...you would have heard about it .