Remírez de Ganuza Trasnocho 2008

... a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and the remaining 5% comes from the skins of the Viura and Malvasia grapes that have been used for the whites ... The 2008 version of it is very dark-colored, young-looking, with a bright purple rim. It feels young and a little backward, and takes time to start revealing itself. The nose is very spicy, with notes of cinnamon and clove that reminded me of a Moroccan pastille, dark chocolate, bright, ripe and very clean fruit, blueberries and cherries with a fresh herbaceous note that lifts the nose. It develops a beautiful floral note of violets with time in the glass. The palate shows a very balanced wine, round, with very fine, sweet tannins. A superbly crafted modern Rioja that should age slowly and gracefully but that can be drunk now. Drink 2014-2028. Score - 96. (Luis Gutierrez, erobertparker.com, Dec. 2013)