WTN: Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva 2003

Good cherry red color in the glass.

Smoke, leather and earth on the nose.

Medium weight, raspberry and cherry fruit, quite tangy, spicy, chocolate, earthy, a little drying and woody. With time, the tanginess increased and the wine seemed to become rather thin.

A drying, acidic finish.

I haven't had a Rioja in a while (used to drink them quite frequently when first starting out) and I expected much, much more from this.

Purchased at $18.95 (Canadian) and not worth it, IMHO.

[David M. Bueker]

Thin and drying sure doesn't sound like 2003. Thanks for kissing a frog so we don't have to.

Hi Bruce,

Have you tried the rioja crianza that LCBO vintages just released, Ontanon 2005? I just had a bottle and bought another one as I really liked it. Not complex, but quite nice for the price.

I have been tracking Viejo TNs all over the place, especially in the UK, and no-one has been impressed with recent vintages.
Can you buy Vina Real, Bruce? Have stacked up of late here in AB-land.

Hi Bruce,

Have you tried the rioja crianza that LCBO vintages just released, Ontanon 2005? I just had a bottle and bought another one as I really liked it. Not complex, but quite nice for the price.

Thanks for the recommendation Tom. Will look out for it.

Can you buy Vina Real, Bruce? Have stacked up of late here in AB-land.

I don't see this wine listed on the LCBO Web site Bob.