Almost 10YO Rioja feeling good, but lifeless and wanton; listless in a field of flowers and fruit, the bitter of structure coming across full and strong where beauty should be. The nose is ripe with spice and funk, though nothing terribly complex exudes. In the mouth, it’s all acid and vagueness, nothing ridiculously Tempranillo coming across in the way the true first growths manage–though a lot of that is through pure barrel. A great wine for the money, but lacking anything truly wonderful. No tertiary, no compelling berry. Drink it and move on.
2014 FINCA MONTOTE Reserva “Crianza on Barricas” Rioja Spain 14.5
Stephen McConnell 