Estimate
The wine has a fully developed nose with all the textbook descriptors of a good aged Rioja—forest floor, cigar ash, cold bonfire, truffle, cherries in liqueur, blonde tobacco, spices and iodine.
Blackcurrants, plums, smoked earth, incense, and violet notes all emerge from this elegant, silky, beautifully polished wine that's full-bodied, has fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It has power, but this is more about finesse and elegance.
A more modern nose with plenty of toasty oak on offer, as well as fresh blueberries and plums. The palate delivers the same fruit-oak interplay with good, fresh plum ahead of mocha on the finish.
Currant, licorice and cocoa flavors are remarkably fresh in this big, firm red. Muscular tannins are a bit grippy, but balsamic acidity keeps this lively.