This is kind of the kid brother to the big 2004 LAN Limited Edition Rioja we had last year… the quieter, more reserved kid brother. This reminds me that Rioja is like the Chianti of Spain in that most of what is out there, in the lower price range and higher production the wines are pretty simple and light, but in the upper echelon of each the wines are rich and delicious. Probably the same could be said for most varietals, but these two are of the most popular. OK, so anyway, this wine is a little less potent than its big brother, but easier to drink, and probably would appeal to a larger audience. It is also more balanced.
The color is inky reddish-black. On the nose it is mostly smokey oak and red Twizzlers… a good amount of fruit. The mouth-feel is really nice with enough weight to give it a luscious feel, but enough acidity to make it great for pretty heavy meals (think Lamb, Roast Beef, etc.), and just enough vegetal and tannin structure to make me think of it as a very serious wine – certainly not overpowering. The primary flavor is raspberry, with some toasty oak and plum mixed in. The fruit is very pure in this wine, which I’ve really come to appreciate after so many jammy/extracted wines. The finish is raspberry, spices, and soft tannins, and lasts for about 30 seconds or more.
This is certainly an enjoyable wine and one you can feel confident serving at a dinner where you want to serve a "good" wine. It will pair with many different foods. However, its relative simplicity keeps it from scoring higher than it did. At the price, I do recommend it.
Rating: 90
Price: $16 (K&L)
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