Benjamin Romeo, Rioja Contador Vintage:2002 anise and smoked meat building

anise and smoked meat building with air

(from 90+ year old vines that are worked by horse)

showing very well even if it was bottled only one month before I tasted it

its sophistication rippling with nuance rather than sheer vulgar power

Benjamin Romeo, Rioja Contador Vintage:2002 anise and smoked meat building(86% tempranillo and 14% garnacha), Inky violet color. Powerful, brooding aromas of black and blue fruits, violet, dark chocolate and anise. Dense, chewy and sweet, with strong dark berry and cherry compote flavors and an exotic floral quality that gains strength with air. Shows serious concentration and extract and finishes sappy and very long. This big boy demands patience. Josh Raynolds