Lopez is an iconic producer in Rioja and this wine really shows how well Spanish wines are able to compete with the best of Burgundy. Tempranillo is a genetic cousin of Pinot Noir, but it rarely ends up tasting as soft as Pinot Noir, or showing the layers of fruit and nuance that Pinot Noir is able to express. This wine is one of the exceptions to that truism. It certainly doesn't hurt that it's 19 years old!
Stephanie Vautravers, on the left in the picture above, was the "winner" of the second New York Grapes wine tasting, and brought this lovely bottle to Dave Morgan's tasting. Amongst 21 wines and 12 voters, it garnered two first place votes and four second place votes (I rated it #2 in the tasting).
This delicate bottling (only 12.5% alcohol) is past its prime, but would have easily passed for a Grand Cru Burgundy if I was tasting it blind.
$76; 93 points
Bottom Line: One of the Top 10 Spanish wines I've had in my life.
Comments