Wine Blogging Wednesday #23
This month's theme is BBQ Wines.
It is hosted by of Joel Vincent of Vivi's Wine Journal.
(Round-up link forthcoming.)
Bodegas Valsacro
who are located in the "semi-desert foothills around Grávalo
in the southwestern corner of the Rioja Baja region"
Our wine this month is:
2001 Valsacro Dioro "Selección J & D" Rioja
I would classify this wine as more of a new style Rioja, but it's not at all a fruit bomb. Yet, it can be drunk quite young, and to me, quality old-style Riojas aren't very drinkable young.
Some US History on this wine: It was released at $32-$36 or so. Soon thereafter, Robert Parker reviewed it in the Wine Advocate and gave it 96 pts. Quite a few stores promptly raised their prices (although not Bottle Barn, where I purchased it after the review for $32). You can still find the wine via Wine-Searcher (even at $60 or $129(!!!)). We've had four bottles so far, and I wouldn't score it a 96, but it is delicious and we'd score our bottles in the 91-95 pt range.
The 2002 vintage of Valsacro Dioro is the one now in stores, and is imported by Kysela Pere et Fils. Kysela's website's page on Valsacro is here. Valsacro's own website is here, but it is very out-of-date.
Joanne's Tasting Notes:
Nose of ash, berries, alcohol and cured meat. Concentrated with blackcurrants and perfumey element with clean lean finish but long finish. Tannins show slightly on finish. The color of the wine is dense dark red with a purple cast.
