Some Holiday wines

MARQUES DE GRINON CABERNET 1984
Served blind.
On sniffing this my immediate thought was Bordeaux.
On the palate it was very resolved so thought it could be 85 as there was the lovely sweet fruit low tannin I associate with this year.
However I switched my opinion to old Rioja as on the palate it seemed more and more like aged Rioja.
Not much orange peel but rose petal, asian spice, dusty cupboard all there.
Other guesses around the table were California.
On revealing there were gasps of surprise. This was a really stunning wine.
It's 90% Cab 10% Merlot and says Vino de Crianza.
So difficult to know how long it was aged.
An e-mail to the winery hasn't been answered (yet)
But a real treat to try this. (96)

CVNE "COSECHA" 1982
This CVNE was sold by barrel and then bottled.
It had two years aging in oak.
It's a blend of Tempranillo Graciano and Viura (a white variety)13.2%
I was really excited to try this and expected great things. Red core with orange rim.
The nose is very muted. This isn't giving up anything at all. It's more impressive on the palate and there is some nice fruit on the finish.
It's not terribly long though and isn't showing at its best sadly.

CONTINO VINA DEL OLIVIO 1996
Deep cherry core with red rim.
Very youthful looking. Perfumed nose. Red and black fruits.
Very smooth and open on palate. Fresh and lively.
Not overtly oaky despite the new oak treatment.
After some time open hints of orange peel and tea appear on the palate.
Then they disappear again. A hint of what's to come here?
Next there's some mint and coffee. Constantly changing and complex.
Halfway between 'traditional' and 'modern'
Oh so drinkable. Excellent. (95)

ARZUAGA CRIANZA 2008 Ribera del Duero
Oak soup. Undrinkable. What is going on here? This used to be more enjoyable. Perhaps the oak might integrate, in a decade or so.
I had this after a good bottle of [b]La Rioja Alta Vina Arana 2001[/b]
which probably heightened the differences but despite being out with friends and wanting to enjoy myself I couldn't drink this.

A surprise, at least for me, that MdeGriñon :-o

Not a surprise, at least for me, that Arzuaga }:-)

Cheers,

Jose

God, the Arzuaga was horrible.
I have enjoyed some previous vintages but a 2005 Reserva was similar oak soup.
NOT a wine for you for sure.

The Olivo was 'modern' but a world apart.

Shame on me, I know, but the only Contino I've tasted is the white one.

Regards,

Jose

I have tasted from barrel.
I have a bottle but I'm holding on to it as I think it might be more interesting with some bottle age.

The Olivo is probably not your style but while modern it is not unbalanced. Yes there is oak but also lots of top quality fruit. It's very silky and opulent.

Don't have any clue about how it'll evolve. Currently ('09 vintage) it's ok, but nothing to raise any clap from my point of view.

Regards,

Jose

I have tried a few red wines during this Summer.... and lots of white & sparkling wines.... Anyway, you have drunk a nice bunch of Spanish 'classic' wines (except for Arzuaga). My favourite of them is Viña del Olivo, but it is probably the least classic of all of them...