Tuesday, 13 April 2010

Muriel Rioja - Asda

No vintage on this one so I guess it is NV.

Now I've previously had a Muriel Reserva 2001 which I didn't write up, but I was very impressed.. But for 4 quid this is great.

Lightweight and a little fruit backwards certainly, but in this context in no way a fault. Slightly drying tannins on the finish from previously-used wood, but a lovely tannin quality.

Exotic boysenberry-style/red fruit/slightly smoky nose. Fabulous balance and purity. Finishes short? But who cares for £4? And with powerful food, (eg the robust spicy beef stew I am eating right now...) the faults dissipate and this becomes almost 'quite serious' - I might even 'beef it up' to 8/10 if you're going to have the right grub with it.

And that is some serious praise for a £4 wine. I will taste another bottle from another Asda to see if this is consistent. But right now this seems like an absolute killer wine for the money.

Muriel Rioja - Asda 7/10 £4

10/7/2010 another bottle. If anything making a better impression than last time. Not on offer anymore though so will cost you the princely sum of £5.28 Magnificent wine for that price, 7.5/10 but needs food, you'll get away with it as a glugger but it won't be in its element.

31/07/2010 A couple of bottles at a party. Definitely holding its own amongst the £5-£10 competition, but reinforcing the notion that this one needs food. Without food, as a party glugger, 6-6.5/10

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