Hard as NAILS here–even in a cheapie–at 8 years. Will it ever come around??? #winebro will excel in it black concentration, but there SO MUCH more here to expound on in Tempranillo slowly finding its way through age. Black and staining in the glass, a nose musty and murky, solidified in old-world funk while new-world glycerine pushes around at the edges. A massive soiled cherry in bouquet, bits of vegetal floating around for careful palates to decifer.
Tannin and acid overwhelm the entry, the ‘Reserva’ portion reserved and shy: a dull American oak pepper grating at all points. Thick while resilient, the dirty cherry still bright and effervescent in a wine purely destined for food and longevity. Raspy while redolent, this resty-list grab satisfies in numerous ways alongside flabby selections from local also-rans.
2015 BODEGAS RAMON BILBAO ‘Reserva’ Rioja DOC Spain 14.5
Stephen McConnell 