TN: 2004 Finca Allende Rioja Allende.

2004 Finca Allende Rioja Allende.

Cellared 6 yrs, $34 Cdn, de Gregorio family, very old estate, “red clay, high iron”. 4 hour decant, some sediment. Good natural cork.

C. No sign of any age, medium cherry intensity.
N. Took a while to open up, cherry, blackberry, oak, smokey, plum on day 2.
P. Initial entry thought is old world for sure, same fruits as above…blackberry especially. Very good acidity, lengthy finish, soft tannins, some ripe fruit after 4 hrs. I think mature but “might use 2 more years” from across the table. Oak is still prevalent with savory notes, solid concentrated fruits (plum).
Did not fade overnight with tons of ripe fruit obvious and more silky in style. Winner!

*** I understand high end wines include Aurus, Calvario, Martillas.

We bought to cases of the 2001 at $10 per and drank through in about 2009-2011. Very enjoyable at the time though maybe a tad modern. French oak right?

I remember having various vintages of this estate when younger, and having a hard time thinking they tasted like the Rioja I was expecting. Stopped buying it.