rioja and ribera del duera both use the same grapes, mostly or all tempranillo with some occasional grenache, and a few other grapes thrown in the mix. using the same grapes, with such different results, has made this a very interesting tasting indeed!
some helpful resources on spanish wines:
rioja
ribera del duero
the wine doctor's guide to spanish wines
Traditional versus Modern Rioja: Question Posed to Riojan Winemakers, from catavino
wines from spain
simple guide to spanish wine, from top tour of spain
blame it on rioja blog
tinto y blanco - adventures in spanish wine blog
tempranillo - blog about the spanish wine industry
*also - william wilson has an unbelievably detailed 17 minute podcast devoted to spanish wines, check it out (itunes or otherwise):
william wilson – wine for newbies 29 – spanish wines
anyone want an excuse to go to rioja and talk with a bunch of other wine nerds? look no further than this, for august 2008:
european wine blogger conference
*all wine for this tasting purchased at astor wines
from rioja
viña gravonia (white rioja wine), 1996, $23.00
-viura (macabeo grape)
->MY NOTES: nose: fungus/blue cheese, apple, taste: metally, aftertaste, envelope-y, sour
*this wine was not impressive to the group during the tasting, but afterwards, when we started to eat some cheese and drink a little more casually, it became a real standout - drink with food!
viña bosconia, 1999, $32.00
-mostly tempranillo, some grenache
->MY NOTES: nose: fresh fruit
marqués de riscal reserva, 2003, $14.00
-simply says "red rioja wine"
->MY NOTES: color: garnet, nose: butterscotch, taste: leather, smooth, non-tannic, cherry, i really liked this one
* this was one of the top 3 liked wines for the tasting!
from ribera del duera
rívola, 2004, $14.00
-simply says "red wine"
->MY NOTES: nose: cheese, olive, taste: cinnamon, cloves, bark, we felt this was a great sipping wine
* this was one of the top 3 liked wines for the tasting!
atalayas, 2005, $21.00
-simply says "ribera del duera red wine"
->MY NOTES: nose: citrus, nail polish remover (!), taste: thin
protos, 2005, $12.00
-simply says "red wine"
->MY NOTES: nose: meaty, taste: woody, black cherry
* this was one of the top 3 liked wines for the tasting!
