Rating: 87/100 - As reviewed by Wine & Spirits Magazine on 12/08

Rating for Spain-Dominiaciones de Origen (DO)-Rioja: 95 (excellent)<br/><br/>Drinkability: young, aging quickly, could be good now<br/>

90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2004 Reserva, composed of 75% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo, 5% Garnacha, and 10% other varietals, spent 23 months in French, Russian, and American oak. Medium dark ruby-colored, it offers an excellent bouquet of cedar, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry. This leads to an elegant, complex, medium to full-bodied wine with excellent depth, balance, and length. It will evolve for 3-4 years and drink well through 2020." (02/08) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Vivid red. Sexy aromas of cherry-vanilla, raspberry and cola, with a suave floral undertone. Broad, fleshy and sweet, with oak-spiced red and dark fruit flavors and velvety tannins. Finishes sweet and with excellent persistence, echoing the vanilla note. Those with a higher oak tolerance will find my score stingy." (Sept/Oct '09) Some of you may have had the 2003 vintage of this wine and, good news, the 2004 is even better. From a better vintage overall, this has a hugely spicy, savory nose layered with fresh fennel, black pepper and cigar smoke, is the first sign of the seriousness of this wine. Pliable tannins will allow you to drink this early, but really this is meant for the cellar. The flavors of fig, Pastis, caramel and tobacco leaf will only get better and more meshed with age. The oak, already perfectly rounded, will continue to bolster all of the fruit here for at least another 7-9 years. (Bryan Brick, K&L Wine Merchants)