Medium minus ruby with a garnet rim in colour with a highly intense nose.

Positives: Elegant Reserva featuring sandalwood, cedar, cigar box, plums, dried cherry, incense, cloves, rosemary, leather, blackberry, hickory & earthy notes. Lots of complexity going here. Medium body, medium minus tannins, good acidity, long length & the wine is nicely balanced with only 13% alcohol.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Decant this wine as there will be sediment at the bottom of the bottle. I like the classic Spanish label.

Drink now on its own or pair it with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 14 July 12

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Fine example of a Rioja,

Nice oak derived aroma and flavours - deliciously woodsy and earthy with leather and tobacco and spice. The fruit is definitely mature - deep dried cherry and I think an indication that this wine probably doesn't have a lot of aging left. The balance is quite good and the finish medium long. Nice dusty wine.

Agree w the pros..it is a pleasure and a change of pace re styles.

Only 19 left in Ont as of Dec2 2012...grab one if u see it!

The 2004 Fernández De Piérola Reserva, made of 10% Tempranillo and aged in French and American oak for 24 months, is a medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with appealing aromas of violets and oak on the nose and red currant, blueberry and faint vanilla on the palate. It is slightly on the acidic side, has subtle to refined tannins, needs to be decanted - the longer, the better (to allow for the yogurty notes to escape), and has a medium finish. This wine, though from 2004, still has the potential to evolve - drink now - 2018. My impression: NICE, 89 pts – not a typical Rioja. Tasted July/12.

See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO on www.grapeselections.com
or
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy