Sierra Cantabria Rioja 2007

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BN#268596

International Wine Cellar

(100% tempranillo from high-altitude vineyards) Deep red. Strawberry and dried cherry aromas are lifted by an enticing floral element and complicated by notes of cured meat and underbrush. Sweet, silky and fine-grained, with firm acids energizing the raspberry and floral flavors. Dusty tannins add solid grip and carry through the long, spicy finish. With air, the red fruits come on strong, suggesting that this deserves decanting or some more cellar time. Definitely not a modern style of Rioja.

Score: 88. —Josh Raynolds, October 01, 2009.

Wine Advocate

The estate-bottled 2007 Sierra Cantabria was aged for six months in tank and six months in seasoned French and American oak. Dark ruby in color, it has an alluring nose of violets, mineral, incense, and blackberry. In the mouth it shows off some finesse with its silky, easy-going personality. This expressive Rioja finishes with no hard edges. Drink it over the next three years.

Score: 88. —Jay Miller, June 2009.

Wine Enthusiast

Fairly generous for a bargain-priced, everyday Rioja. There’s bacon, rubber, leather and mild oak on the fruity bouquet, while the palate is concentrated, jumpy and hosts honest red berry fruit flavors along with dry oak and a spot of vanilla. Meets any reasonable expectation of what $12 Rioja should be.

Score: 87. —Michael Schachner, June 01, 2010.