2001 Baron de Chirel Rioja Reserva

The 2001 Baron de Chirel Reserva is composed of 80% Tempranillo with the balance an assortment of other varietals selected from the estate’s older vineyards with lower yields. The wine was oak aged for 21 months. The color is a dark ruby/purple and the nose, with coaxing, gives up aromas of earth and oak, but the fruit is muted. On the palate, the wine is firm and somewhat hard in the finish. There is fruit present (it is after all the 2001 vintage) but whether it will ever play a prominent role remains to be seen. eRobertParker.com.February, 2007