This vintage has rather fresher fruit and floral notes which are present in all the phases of the tasting, but without becoming dominant at any time. You can find fresh, jammy cherry, red-berry fruit compote, a touch of liquorice and aniseed, and hints of fennel and white blossom. The rich spectrum of aromas is so great that it barely leaves room for the hints of oaky spices to make an appearance. These are hard to pin down, but we think you can find traces of caramel, vanilla and coconutSmooth mouth-feel with a predominance of sweet, well-rounded tannins, quite a surprise when you remember the age of the wine. A presence of natural acidity which has become blurred and in no way intrudes.There is less fruit and more spiciness in the retro nasal tasting, with cherries but also vanilla, wild shrubs, black pepper and a little leather. The floral nuances disappear in this phase.The aftertaste is long and silky, with a curious mixture of the sweet shop and mineral sensations coming through.

2011 Vintage Scores:

““It is a Rioja that mixes the traditional and modern character with ripe fruit and contains oak aromas that are quite spicy and have some toast and smoke that should integrate with a bit of time in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied, has clean flavors that are balanced with sweet tannins. This is easy to drink, pleasant but not banal, and delivers a lot for its price. An impressive half-million bottles are produced of this wine, which is sold as Crianza in Spain and as Reserva in the rest of the world. Year after year, one of the most reliable and affordable Reservas.

The Wine Advocate: 91 Points