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Bodegas Riojanas, Gran Albina 2004

£19.99

This 'Alte Expression' Rioja is made from hand-selected grapes and gets 24 months in new American oak caskes, creating an intense, concentrated and very modern style of red wine with chewy tannins and opulent fruits. Unlike traditional riojas, which are ready when released (although some can be kept), this needs a few years bottle age to reveal its true glory
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Bodegas Riojanas, Monte Real Gran Reserva 1998

£18.49

Unusually for Rioja, this is a single vineyard wine. The Rioja Alta fruit gives extra weight and body to this smoky, spicy wine, which is ready to drink but should keep in your cellar a while if you like
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Van Volxem, Saar Riesling 2005

Online Catalogue | Sipped and Savoured | Van Volxem, Saar Riesling 2005

Tasted February 2008

We love mavericks at reserve, and Roman Niewodniczanski is certainly one of these. Dedicated to the dream of reproducing wines of the quality of Rieslings glory years when it out-priced Bordeaux, he has eschewed the official 'Pradikat' classification and concentrates on making quality wines from prime but previously forgotten vineyards in the Saar valley

Grape: Riesling

Region: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer

Soil Type: From vineyards throughout the slatey Saar valley

Winemaking: Grapes are hand-harvested late in the season and fermented half in stainless steel, half in large oak vats. Malolactic fermentation is blocked, and the wine is aged for 4 months in a mixture of oak and stainless steel before blending

ABV: 12%

Tasting Note
A rounded generous nose of sweet lime fruit and wildflower honey is mirrored on the palate along with citrus peel and a steely minerality. The characteristically exciting acidity balances the hint of residual sugar beautifully, and the finish is impressively lengthy with flinty green apples lingering in the mouth.

Cellaring
The high acidity and mineral structure point to a good future for this generous Riesling. Drink now or keep 5 years.

If you like this, why not try… Washington State Riesling - my favourite is a joint project between Chateau Ste Michelle and Eroica 2006

Online Catalogue | Sipped and Savoured | Van Volxem, Saar Riesling 2005