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A - W
1,457 posts
84 months
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Thank you. Very interesting.
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Hoover.
4,867 posts
111 months
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DuncanM said: An update to this blog/thread! The marques de valido is back on offer in the co op and @4.99 it is a lovely Ripja and well worth a try. I will be stocking up  Oddly my local Co-op's supply seems to be rather low  
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Ultuous
1,618 posts
60 months
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paulmon said: Although I have had some Reserva/Gran Reservas that have been worse that some Crianzas so I tend to think its more of a marketing ploy by some makers rather than a mark of quality. It's one of those indications of quality that's meant to be just a guide, but is unfortunately construed as 'older=better' by many! I believe some Rioja's are said to favour less maturation, and in general they taste 'fruitier' when younger (although this may just be BS that I've read from a distributor that wanted to offload a load of disastrous Crianza!  )
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Urban Sports
7,455 posts
72 months
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I came back from a 2 weeker in Spain this morning, I've over indulged a far bit but I have to say the various incarnations of Berberana (particularly the gran reserva) are superb, obviously dearer here but it travels well
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Riff Raff
2,223 posts
64 months
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Riff Raff said: paulmon said: Just got back from Mallorca and tried a couple of Rioja's whilst out there. Came accross this one night at a restaurant and it was very nice . Paid 16 euros at the restaurant and then found it at the hyper market the following day for under 6 euros. Since returning home I have seen it online for around a £10. Not sure if I would pay that for it at home but if you are visiting Spain then its certainly worth a £5.  You're right - that can be very good. £10 a bottle might be OK, depending on what it is (Crianza / Reserva / Gran Reserva). I'm sitting in a bar at the moment in Spain. I've just checked out the El Coto in the local supermarket - €5.50 for the crianza, and €8.50 for the reserva. Time to buy a few bottles I think.......
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theboyrob
191 posts
34 months
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Symbolica said:  Also Lagunilla Reserva 2006 can sometimes be found for £5 a bottle (normally £12.50). Another vote for this, lovely!
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theboyrob
191 posts
34 months
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paulmon said: Just got back from Mallorca and tried a couple of Rioja's whilst out there. Came accross this one night at a restaurant and it was very nice . Paid 16 euros at the restaurant and then found it at the hyper market the following day for under 6 euros. Since returning home I have seen it online for around a £10. Not sure if I would pay that for it at home but if you are visiting Spain then its certainly worth a £5. I drink that at the local restaurant, £13.95 a bottle. I have seen it at around £7.50 a bottle on the web, they also do a white which is very nice! (And I don't like white all that much...)
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sagarich
356 posts
18 months
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Another vote for a nice Malbec.
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Mobile Chicane
14,018 posts
81 months
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Campo Viejo 2008 Rioja Crianza is on offer at Waitrose until 8 May.
£5.93 a bottle. I may go back and get more...
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Ultuous
1,618 posts
60 months
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Can't go wrong with Campo Viejo (it's very decent indeed!) but then I find it a bit characterless after a while... It's the kind of bottle I'll buy when it’s at that price (often!) and take to a party where I don’t want to be found out for supplying vinegar, but don’t want to give away anything too special that may not be appreciated![/snob] I'm embarrassed to admit that I tried their Rose once out of intrigue (g/f wanted a glass and I spotted it was on the menu in the pub, seeing as I like a good Rioja) and it was mind-blowing good!
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prand
2,583 posts
65 months
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A - W said: Stupid question time, whats the difference? It's all about time spent aged in oak. Definition is here: Crianza A wine labeled 'crianza' has spent one year in oak barrels. Reserva A wine which says 'reserva' on the bottle has been aged for two years; one of these years has to have been spent in oak. Gran Reserva These wines are aged for two years in oak and three years in the bottle. Now I have found this in my time drinking and keeping various riojas: that the reservas and gran reservas at the cheaper end (campo viejo and cheaper) are still very dry and tannic even only 3-5 years old (from age of vintage). I've managed to keep some vintages for 10 years and the wine smoothes out, you still get oak flavours, dryness and savoury tones but it becomes much more refined and drinkable. Good (perhaps read "expensive", but not always an indication of quality) reserva and gran reserva on the whole is excellent, and balanced even when quite young, but will still benefit a great deal from ageing to 10 years or more. It's very rare to see very old Rioja and I don't believe it's only because it doesn't last, but it sells and is drunk. I generally find and buy Crianzas when I see them in preference to reservas them as the wine is usually drinkable at a young age and is a good value quaffing wine - not so much character from ook perhaps, but that isn't always a bad thing! In my trips to Spain and seeing a lot of crianza asked for in bars and avaliable in supermarkets, I also think they don't export this stuff, and less is available in the UK as we are sold the "premium" product, when I'd argue it isn't always the case.
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Symbolica
8,929 posts
84 months
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FLGirl said: Symbolica said: Also Lagunilla Reserva 2006 can sometimes be found for £5 a bottle (normally £12.50). I am also a Rioja obsessive and recently tried the Lagunilla 2006. It was truly excellent. For anybody who is interested, it's back to £4.99 in Morrisons. £30 a case really is a bargain for this stuff.
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A - W
1,457 posts
84 months
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There is a 2007 Reserva at Lidl for around £6 a bottle.
Very nice.
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paulmon
582 posts
110 months
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Symbolica said: For anybody who is interested, it's back to £4.99 in Morrisons. £30 a case really is a bargain for this stuff. Purchased a couple of bottles of this today an it's a bargain @ £5. I'll be back tomorrow to literally fill my boot. P
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Ultuous
1,618 posts
60 months
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Loving this thread (but not sure my liver and bank balance will!)... Crumbled mid week and popped into Waitrose for a bottle of Viejo, then went to Morrisons yesterday and stocked up on Berberana and Lagunilla whilst still on offer - thanks for the recommendations guys, just realised I've not had a Viejo for years and I'm looking forward to trying the others - I'm starting to think this forum could do with a more general wine recommendations thread/ sticky of some sort to help separate the wheat from the chaff out there!
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paulmon
582 posts
110 months
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RESSE
2,561 posts
90 months
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15 litres last Tuesday lunchtime between a "few" of us - best lunch for years! 
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Davey S2
8,662 posts
123 months
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Nice
Bought a nice 1.5l bottle of Faustino V on the weekend to take down to friends in Cornwall this weekend.
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RESSE
2,561 posts
90 months
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Davey S2 said: Nice
Bought a nice 1.5l bottle of Faustino V on the weekend to take down to friends in Cornwall this weekend. We are big fans of Faustino V. Lovely stuff.
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Davey S2
8,662 posts
123 months
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RESSE said: Davey S2 said: Nice
Bought a nice 1.5l bottle of Faustino V on the weekend to take down to friends in Cornwall this weekend. We are big fans of Faustino V. Lovely stuff. Got this in Costco for about £18. It comes in a nice wooden case as well so makes a good present.
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