This thing SMELLS like a 50-dollar Napa Merlot and TASTES like a 20-dollar Chianti. OK, massive over-generalizations aside, let this thing go down as a bit of a juxtaposition.
Big creamy toasted oak, NyQuil, Dr. Pepper, chocolate-syrup jam-pcked luscious bouquet ripe and plush and new-worldy. But in the mouth, full fruit of a euro-restrained texture, ramped up on acid, mineral and sweaty dark hair streaming in little rivulets down olive skin and dripping on dank concrete. Steely tannins warp the tongue.
I had a Rioja the other day that started out this yummy but went all flabby and sweet in the mouth. This one checks in with gobs of balance, food-ability, and character. I could sell TRUCKLOADS of this stuff–endcap or btg.
2011 BODEGAS MURIEL Tempranillo Reserva Rioja Spain
Stephen McConnell 