Viña Real Gran Reserva 2005 [Red]
Producer: CVNE
Region: DOC Rioja

One of the best wines I've had the pleasure to taste in the last year or so. Magnificent example of a Rioja Gran Reserva as it should be, and from an excellent vintage. Outstanding.

Dark cherry red color, still looks young. Somewhat closed on the nose, but the class and elegance are very much in evidence: blueberry fruit, a touch of smoke, cigar box, and more. On the palate it has that difficult to achieve combination of power and elegance - clean, elegant tannins, interminable length - genuinely merits the old cliché of "an iron fist in a velvet glove". Still very young, needs time to reach full potential. Not to be missed.

[$H]
18 Jan 2013