Jay Kline

9.2

This is the Gran Reserva “Edición Limitada”.

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and some significant rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cherries and raspberries with some red plum, old leather, old cedar chest, a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory.

Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Aglianico, or Cabernet Sauvignon (and based blends) from Italy, France or the United States. With the fruits and non-fruits presenting the way they were, the use of some new small format oak, throupled with the significant structure despite what was obvious age (I was thinking 40+ years), I went with Sangiovese from Italy, from Tuscany, from Chianti Classico, Riserva level from a modern leaning producer like Antinori, 1985. Damn…Tempranillo didn’t even cross my mind. I didn’t think the color was dark enough and I didn’t really get American oak the way I would expect with Rioja…but here we are. Now that I think about it, Antinori may not have using barrique back then. Perhaps I was trying to be too be too clever; I’ll learn from this. Regardless, I thought this was freaking delicious and showing really well! Fully mature but should enjoy this stage for the next ten years. Drink now through 2033. — 2 days ago

Jason Keefer

9.1

Dark and sultry but very approachable! Just very well balanced! — 20 days ago

with Natasha

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.4

Incredible bottle of LRA — 10 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

100% Malbec crafted by the Catena Zapata family, which established with their first Malbec vineyard planted in Mendoza, Argentina in the beginning of 1900’s.
This is sensational mid-range in the Zapata portfolio, highly perfumed wine, on nose it welcomes you with a blend of medley berries, ripen plums and baked blueberries. On the palate shows highly and deep flavors of dark chocolate, some hint of herbaceous and violet flowers as well.
The mouthfeel is denoted by the creamy and rounded tannins with a execptional depth and complexity. Decant it for 45-60 mins, pour and cheers! — 8 days ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.1

Beautiful Rioja. Layers of red fruit and nice acidity. Super mellow tannins at this age. Doesn’t need much to open up. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 2015 pours a beautiful garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and some tart red fruits: Morello cherry, raspberry, blood orange, black tea, red flowers, licorice, leather, exotic spices, and dry stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. This needed about an hour in the decanter before it really began to strut its stuff but when it did, holy smokes, it was out of this world. A brilliant wine and a beautiful expression of Sangiovese and Montalcino. What a lovely treat. Drink now through 2045. — 11 days ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Very light and classy. Orange peel, roses, plum, tangy violet. Intense but light and a very pure. Long finish. Excellent (bottle pictured from library, not the one I drank) — 5 days ago

with Chris, Alec and 1 other

Mo

9.2

WS: 93. Suave and harmonious, with a firm frame of fine-grained tannins married to ripe black and red currant fruit, iron and ash, anise, black tea leaf and citrus peel notes. This expands on the palate and through the long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2035. 950 cases made, 400 cases imported.

Alison Napjus
Issue Date: Jul 31, 2023
Release Price: $43/750mL — 2 days ago

Michelle

9.2

Had in València. We really like this Rioja. Dry and smooth. A definite buy. — 7 days ago

Karyn Fricke

9.0

Berry fruit nose with cinnamon and nutmeg spices. Medium tannins, well balanced great paella — 24 minutes ago