Hello Spanish-Vina Alberdi 2003 Rioja Reserva

Vina Alberdi 2003 Rioja Reserva

This was a gift to the mister some birthday ago, and over this holiday season he decided to open it.  It is 100% Tempranillo, unfined and unfiltered, with praise by Spanish wine buyers and Robert Parker, who gave it 90 points when rating for Wine Advocate.  Here is what he said:

"The 2003 Viña Alberdi from the famed La Rioja Alta contains some declassified fruit. The wine is a classically-styled Rioja with a nose of earth, mushroom, mineral, cherry, and blackberry. This is followed by an elegant wine with a silky texture, good depth and concentration, considerable complexity, and a seamless finish. It is at its peak now and will continue to drink well for another five years. It personifies finesse." (Feb. 2009)

On his own observations, my mister noted a good complex nose of mineral, mushrooms, fruit in the back, rich, woodsy and earthy.

Taste, he noted, was smooth, with a light black cherry undertone, cocoa, and tannins that start light and fade. 

A smooth and medium length finish ended the tasting experience. 

Overall, he felt it was a very good selection, and enjoyed the earthy/woodsy/mushroom notes, and although the tannins were very mild (prefers more robust) the finish was deliberately smooth, and with modest background fruits, was quite happy.