2003 Rioja Crianza
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Tasting notes
Dark red. Fresh red and dark berry aromas show impressive clarity and no roasted 2003 character. Dried red fruit flavors are firmed by supple tannins and complicated by a floral pastille quality. Finishes with excellent lift and thrust, leaving sweet strawberry and cherry flavors behind.
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Josh Raynolds
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The 2003 Crianza is 100% Tempranillo from three estate-owned parcels. The wine was aged for 14 months in used French and American oak and bottled unfiltered. Dark ruby-colored, the wine emits a classy nose of cinammom spice, cedar, tobacco, and red currants. The wine is fairly broad on the palate for this hot vintage with chunky, ripe fruit, moderate tannin, good balance, and decent length. It should evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2013. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA; tel.(781) 461-5767
The 2003 Rioja (100% Tempranillo) is a crisp, ripe, medium-bodied effort revealing surprisingly good freshness for a wine from this hot vintage along with notions of spicy oak, cigar tobacco, sweet vanilla, and cherry/currant fruit. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767