I had a Faustino Rioja last night, I sensed the Rioja taste for a fleeting moment but it was lost in a sea of alcohol/bitterness.

Any recommendations for a stunning Rioja??

I thought this was more your style…..

😉

Oh…. and real cowboys don’t drink wine

Hora, after last night’s disappointment:

Not had a decent Rioja for ages – try some of the South American stuff, I find more hits than misses there.

Apparently the Portuguese stuff’s a lot better than the Spanish at the moment. Due to the state of their economy, its distilled from the tears of the unemployed and homeless

I had a Faustino Rioja last night, I sensed the Rioja taste for a fleeting moment but it was lost in a sea of alcohol/bitterness.

Any recommendations for a stunning Rioja??

MTFU and get some meths you pansy.

Langunilla is very nice as is Campo Viejo

Best rioja I ever had was the Paternina gran reserva..

But.. for a more palatable price, try the Paternina banda roja reserva..

i’d go with a muga or a puelles (but it’s impossible to get in the uk).

mastiles_fanylion – Member
Not had a decent Rioja for ages – try some of the South American stuff, I find more hits than misses there.

binners – Member
Apparently the Portuguese stuff’s a lot better than the Spanish at the moment. Due to the state of their economy, its distilled from the tears of the unemployed and homeless

You guys do know that Rioja is a region in spain with very strict rules about how the wine must be kept/aged? a bit like saying champagne is rubbish, which not get some lambrussco in…

I recall this being OK, especially if you like hessian, a coarse cloth of mixed hemp and jute.

You guys do know that Rioja is a region in spain with very strict rules about how the wine must be kept/aged?

Err yes I know Rioja is a region of Spain. 🙄

I meant that I have stopped buying Rioja and buy South American reds (variety of brands, grapes etc), most of which are better than most European wines I have had recently.

Which Faustino?
The ‘VII’ is for chugging, ‘V’ is nice enough on with a meal but the ‘I’ is the one to savour.

It was on special at the Co-Op so I assume it was the cleaning fluid version……

La Rioja Alta.
Marques de murrietta
Marques de Riscal
Cune

Marques de Riscal is my reliable rioja. Majestic stock 2006 but 2005 is better if you can get it. My local winestore claim that Majestic use this as a loss-leader for their Spanish wine as they sell it below his cost frequently!

http://www.majestic.co.uk/find/category-is-Wine/category-is-Spain/product-is-14210

If you want to spend some money they are some really ballsy wines from Priorat, but its 2-3x the price.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Aldi temperanillo is surprisingly quaffable at 1/2 – 1/3 the price!!!

You guys do know that Rioja is a region in spain with very strict rules about how the wine must be kept/aged?

Really? Wow! Every day’s a school day on here, isn’t it?

Are there any other gems of your infinite wisdom you’d like to furnish us with? Careful though. Sometimes it can be misconstrued, and you can easily come across as a pompous, patronising arse!

+1 for the Muga.

FIL always has some 2007 Reserva Muga about and thats really tastey!

Baldysquirt – Member
Langunilla is very nice as is Campo Viejo

Campo Viejo is a good call!

La Rioja Alta.
Marques de murrietta
Marques de Riscal
Cune

It’s Cvne, not Cune.

Edit: googling suggests the company’s CVNE, the brand Cune. So you were right.

I like Coto de Imaz, no idea if you can get it in the UK though. But given the choice I’d usually go with a Ribera del Duero rather than a Rioja.

Theres a nice Spanish Restaurant on Deansgate in Manchester. I think I’ll go there this weekend 🙂

Rafas El Rincon? Good call! Will they let you in in Cowboy Boots?

As long as I don’t say I’m Texan..

Rioja finder by year.

Are there any other gems of your infinite wisdom you’d like to furnish us with?

Did you know that Portsmouth is an island?

a bit like saying champagne is rubbish

And because you have titted me off, it is Champagne, not champagne as it is a region. Didn’t you know that? Tut.

Majestic had a good deal on a Muriel Gran Reserva recently – I picked up a bottle of 1985 for about £18 – twas awesome. I think they’ve got similar deals on a 1989 (ish?) at the minute. Usually got to buy 2 bottles as part of min of 6, but if they’ve got a “Spanish” deal on you can mix and match singles within your 6 (so 5 bottles of drain cleaner and a 1985 Gran Reserva ;o)

Muga and Cvne also very reliable but as ever, you get what you pay for!

Muriel’s a good call actually. Even their Sainsburys/Asda cheap tat is good canon fodder.

+1 for MrSmith, Marques de Riscal is my favourite.

Head over to Majestic for good Rioja

a good Rioja is a pleasure to drink, try this for a special occasion

Ribera del Duero is every bit as cheeky as a good Rioja. Try some…. soon before the secret is out.

Had this at a tapas restuarant recently and thought it was good

+1 for the Marques de Caceres.

The Marques de Caceres white rioja is also excellent.

Campo Viejo is also an honest, and relatively cheap one worth trying.

Oh yeah, forgot about the Campo Viejo.
They always have cases of it on special offer in the Costco near me.
There’s an orange labelled version and a yellow label; from memory, the orange label is slightly better but they are both quite quaffable.

Antaño is a not too shabby drink for a cheapish price.

Going for a ride later on this afternoon so I may pop into Majestic on the way back off the motorway 8)

ElShalimo – Member

a good Rioja is a pleasure to drink, try this for a special occasion

Ribera del Duero is every bit as cheeky as a good Rioja. Try some…. soon before the secret is out.
Like THIS then

I think the nice thing about Ribera del Duero is that most of the producers are quite small, almost one could say nichelike.

Marques Del Norte from Asda’s is very good at £4.46

Second the Duero recommendation, also try the Somontano ones and Toro ones, excellent wines at better prices.

Langunilla is very nice

£4.99 at morrisons just now