So last night Betsy made hake with a salsa verde (with peas) while I made a dish of "broccoflower" with pimenton. Both vaguely Spanish, went downstairs for a cava, couldn't find, decided to go off into left field with the 1998 Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Rioja Rosado. Betsy in her usual perceptive if not geeky way quickly exclaimed "hey, it smells old on nose but tastes young." Nose is slightly sherried, with dried flowers, earth, and orange zest. Palate has good acidity, flavors of blood oranges and watermelon. With time fruit expands, with a little nutty note in background. Nice wine, though I'd give the edge to the '97 or '93 over this. Idiosyncratic wine- whether you liked or not would depend on tastes, but no one would call it the "same old same old." B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.
