A wonderful mature Rioja here. Aromas and flavours of coconut and red berries, with a silky smooth mouthfeel, and fresh balancing acidity. Great way to taste aged wine for $20.

Subtle, elegant and sophisticated. Red berry, earthy spice, light vanilla, on a firm, slightly tart but silky smooth structure. Pure joy.

Medium minus ruby in colour with a medium intense nose.

A true pleasure to drink and for just over $20.

Positives: This complex wine features cedar, sandalwood, dark cherry, cinnamon, cloves, coconut, vanilla, nutmeg and some leather. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: I like the classic label.

Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Crusted Black Pepper and Cinnamon seared Pork Loin served with fried yucca drizzled with garlic butter.

Tasted: 18 Nov 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

Mature Rioja still showing red berry fruit and smooth smoky cedar. Great stuff.

The 2005 Coto De Imaz Reserva, made of 100% Tempranillo and aged for 12 months in American oak; is a light to medium bodied wine, with intense aromas of integrated sandalwood, vanilla, faint leather and cherry. It needs about an hour to decant, but once it does, the acidity mellows out and becomes nicely balanced with refined tannins and a long and smooth finish. It is at its peak now as the fruit is starting to diminish, but still should last for another 5+ years. My impression: BEAUTIFUL, 90-91 pts – a recommended buy as this is one of tastier Riojas under $30. Tasted Apr/12.

See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO @

www.GrapeSelections.com

or here @
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy

A real beauty from Spain for a buen precio. In 2005 the tune "Drop it Like its Hot" was popular with the hip kids. Like Snoop Dog in a sauna eating some red curry. Its old school, wreaks of coolness, smells of cheeba and wet cedar, and has a great spicy finish. When the pimps come to your crib ma, drop this with some spicy sausage, asiago cheese, and sea salt crackers

Cedar, smoke, vanilla, fig, sandal wood, white musk, earth & wet leaves on the nose. The garnet shows slight signs of age. The palate is suave, silky and smooth. Cherry, vanilla and smoke with hints of mineral on a crisp acidic finish.

This was originally rated higher but its aging quickly and has lost some fruit.

I agree with the other reviewers about how silky smooth this wine is. However, the taste that I think David describes as "mature cedar" is one that I would prefer to be not there, so I cannot personally give a high rating. But this is a high quality wine, and those who like the cedar taste should love this wine.

Deep red. Medium body. Fruity, woody and herbal. Some complexity. Lots of ripe tannin. Struck me as being a good, balanced wine but it lacked the concentration I would expect at this price.

Had this last night. Smooth but nothing memorable. 2013 Nov 6