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Riff Raff
2,222 posts
64 months
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I like Viña Ardanza, and anything by Muga. Bit expensive, but they are quality. Also anything by Cune tends to be drinkable - right up from the Crianza through the Reservas and into their more expensive bottlings such as Imperial. Pomal is quit nice too and you do see it in the UK from time to time. I also like the Paternina offerings, but I haven't seen any of those in the UK.
As someone else said, don't feel obliged just to try Rioja - have a go at some of the Ribera del Duero products - IMHO they are well worth it.
I also have a soft spot for Cariñena. One of my wife's relations has a little vineyard there, and one of my hazy recollections is getting completely trollied on some of their 14.5% plus bottlings, drunk from a porrón...........
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prand
2,572 posts
65 months
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I love Rioja too and as above, my regular tipples are Muga & Cune (as they are both sold at Majestic), and Darien (because I visited the Bodegas), and in my comprehensive investigations, I've found that the common supermarket wines (Campo Viejo, Faustino) are a bit bland and mass produced for me now!
I also find that drinking "young" reservas or grand reservas are still too high in tannins, which smooth out after 7 years or so in the bottle.
Also as abover, Ribero Del Duero wine as an alternative to Rioja. It's good strong tasty wine. Argentinian Malbec, Chilean Carmenere, and Corbieres from France I'd recommend as good value alternatives.
I would heartily suggest a visit to the Rioja region. Easy to get to from Bilbao by hire car, we went to Haro (home of many bodegas, many in walking distance of the town center), Logrono (brilliant tapas bars) and Laguardia (hilltop village with a honeycomb of cellars, and amazing views of the valley and mountains), had a birthday dinner at the bonkers Marquis De Risqal (whose wine I'm not keen on).
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A - W
1,456 posts
84 months
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prand
2,572 posts
65 months
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For any Rioja lovers:
I was sent this offer this week from Fine & Rare Wines- for those who have a spare £250 or so! (price below doesn't include shipping or duty)
Double Award Winning: 2007 CVNE Contino Viña del Olivo
Newly awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Decanter and winner of a Gold Medal in Decanter’s 2011 World Wine Awards, 2007 Contino Viña del Olivo from CVNE is exceptional quality for £230 per 6 bottle case.
CVNE (Compañia Vinicola del Norte de España) is one of Rioja’s most prestigious estates, producing some of the region’s longest-lived wines. Located in Rioja Alvesa, their single vineyard bodega Contino is regarded as “ground-breaking” by Jancis Robinson because it was the first to break the tradition of blending grapes from different regions and sites. Contino’s flagship Viña del Olivo is only produced in the very best years and is consistently rated one of the top wines in all of Spain.
Availability: Lying at CVNE and subject to our normal shipping cycle
2007 Contino Viña del Olivo 5 Stars (Dec) £230 /Cs (6x75cl) IB
"Complex bouquet of redcurrant, vanilla, cassis, plum and cherry. Mellow, smoky, rich and ripe with fine oak balanced by tangerine acidity. Pure, intense, very long and very good. Tastes expensive." 5 Stars Decanter March 2012
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DuncanM
Original Poster
1,808 posts
148 months
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prand said: For any Rioja lovers:
I was sent this offer this week from Fine & Rare Wines- for those who have a spare £250 or so! (price below doesn't include shipping or duty)
Double Award Winning: 2007 CVNE Contino Viña del Olivo
Newly awarded 5 out of 5 stars by Decanter and winner of a Gold Medal in Decanter’s 2011 World Wine Awards, 2007 Contino Viña del Olivo from CVNE is exceptional quality for £230 per 6 bottle case.
CVNE (Compañia Vinicola del Norte de España) is one of Rioja’s most prestigious estates, producing some of the region’s longest-lived wines. Located in Rioja Alvesa, their single vineyard bodega Contino is regarded as “ground-breaking” by Jancis Robinson because it was the first to break the tradition of blending grapes from different regions and sites. Contino’s flagship Viña del Olivo is only produced in the very best years and is consistently rated one of the top wines in all of Spain.
Availability: Lying at CVNE and subject to our normal shipping cycle
2007 Contino Viña del Olivo 5 Stars (Dec) £230 /Cs (6x75cl) IB
"Complex bouquet of redcurrant, vanilla, cassis, plum and cherry. Mellow, smoky, rich and ripe with fine oak balanced by tangerine acidity. Pure, intense, very long and very good. Tastes expensive." 5 Stars Decanter March 2012
I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this. Adam, with his aldi recommendation, is much closer to what I'm interested in. I would love to try a £38 bottle of Rioja but it is madness, and I can't imagine it being worth 5x more than a very good reserva?
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Urban Sports
7,453 posts
72 months
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DuncanM said: I'm obsessed with Rioja at the moment and am just coming to the end of a good couple of months drinking a nice Reserva (Marquis de Valido) that I picked up on a great deal from The co-op.
So, looking around at deals, I have bought 6 bottles of this: Faustino Rivero Rioja Reserva from Tesco.
Has anyone tried it? I'm hoping it's nice so I can stock up.
On another note, what other wines would people recommend I try?
I really should try some different wines but can't get off the Rioja at the moment as I love it so much!
Regards
Duncan I too am obsessed, the Faustino is nice, I'm off to Spain in a couple of hours, Rioja will be my first thought when I get there 
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FLGirl
1,034 posts
60 months
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DuncanM
Original Poster
1,808 posts
148 months
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FLGirl said: Thanks FLGirl, I'm going to try the Castillo San Simon next time. The Berberana is really nice and much better than the Faustino in my opinion  . Duncan
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bacchus180
726 posts
153 months
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if you get the chance try La Montesa Rioja 2007, full round, soft and beautiful. probably the best bottle of Rioja I have had.. and I've had a few.. trust me
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DuncanM
Original Poster
1,808 posts
148 months
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DuncanM said: FLGirl said: Thanks FLGirl, I'm going to try the Castillo San Simon next time. The Berberana is really nice and much better than the Faustino in my opinion . Duncan Update time. Tried the San Simon last night, very nice indeed, but not as nice as the Berberana which I really love. It is £1 cheaper per bottle though....;)
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Symbolica
8,926 posts
84 months
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Another recommendation for the OP:  El Rastro Tempranillo. £3.99 in Morrisons right now (down from £7-ish). They also sell a case of 6 for about £18 and for a cheap-o red it's actually bloody good!
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DuncanM
Original Poster
1,808 posts
148 months
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An update to this blog/thread! The Castillo San Simon has become a firm favourite now, I love it! So thank you flgirl for the recommendation 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
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Gwagon111
3,365 posts
30 months
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The Faustino 1 is the daddy. The others are pale imitations.
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DuncanM
Original Poster
1,808 posts
148 months
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Gwagon111 said: The Faustino 1 is the daddy. The others are pale imitations. I didn't like the faustino, no where near as nice as the berberana and the de valido IMO. Everyone has different taste I guess
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Gwagon111
3,365 posts
30 months
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DuncanM said: I didn't like the faustino, no where near as nice as the berberana and the de valido IMO. Everyone has different taste I guess The VII Faustino is crap. The Faustino I is to die for. At the best part of 20 quid a bottle, you would expect it to be  .
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paulmon
578 posts
110 months
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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. 
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Riff Raff
2,222 posts
64 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. You're right - that can be very good. £10 a bottle might be OK, depending on what it is (Crianza / Reserva / Gran Reserva).
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A - W
1,456 posts
84 months
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Riff Raff said: (Crianza / Reserva / Gran Reserva). Stupid question time, whats the difference?
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paulmon
578 posts
110 months
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A - W said: Stupid question time, whats the difference? I'm no expert but I think its to do with the year the wine was produced and the quality of the grape for that year ??? 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.
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Digger
5,686 posts
60 months
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Another addict here. One of my preferred bottles below. 
