Utseende: Tät, djupt rubinröd färg med röd kant.

Doft: Rik och generös fruktig och kryddig doft med toner av vanilj, björnbör, körsbär och nejlika.

Smak: Smaken är rik och generös, fyllig, fruktig, kryddig, med påtagliga tanniner, bra syra och toner av körsbär, björnbär, nejlika och andra kryddor och med nymalet espressokaffe i eftersmaken.

2019

Decanter - 92 p - "Concentration and depth in an expressive reserva with some ageing potential. An intruigung expression of tempranillo with delicious poached plum, bergamot, Earl Grey, cardamom and nutmeg. Intensity and focus framed by poised, spicy tannins."

Vinous - 92 p - "The 2019 Reserva is a tempranillo sourced from San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Ábalos, Rioja Alta. Aged for 18 months in used American and French barrels, this dark garnet wine delivers notes of blackberry, plum, bay leaf and mint, accompanied by hints of nutmeg and coconut. Dry and fairly creamy, with a juicy flow, the fine tannins and chalky mouthfeel lead to a medium bodied finish."

James Suckling - 91 p - "This has cocoa powder, dark spices, dark cherries and plums, showing good depth and structure despite the chewiness. Full-bodied and tight on the palate with a long finish. Needs time to let the granular tannins come around. Better in two more years. (June 2024)"

Jeb Dunnuck - 91 p - "The 2019 Reserva is also all tempranillo and was aged 18 months in oak and another 18 months in bottle. It brings another level of density and depth, with a concentrated, powerful style in its smoky red and black fruits, graphite, leather, and scorched earth-like style as well as its medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. It needs 3-5 years of bottle age but will drink beautifully over the following decade or more. (July 2024)"

Tim Atkin - 91 p - "The charming Ramírez de la Piscina family make some of the most under-rated wines in Rioja. This great-value tempranillo uses raw material from Ábalos and San Vicente de la Sonsierra and has layers of stony reduction, blackberry and fennel framed by spicy, scented French and American oak. Drink 2026 to 2033."

Guía Peñín - 90 p - "Cherry colour. Aromas of ripe fruit, dried herbs and toasted bread. Taste of ripe fruit with fine bitter notes."

2017

Jancis Robinson - 17 p - "100% tempranillo. Vineyards planted between 560 and 630 m above sea level in San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Ábalos. Hand-harvested. Alcoholic fermentation in stainless-steel vats with automatic control of the maceration. Aged in French and American oak barrels for 18 months, then 18 months more bottled. Tasted blind. Sweet spices, meaty and developing tertiary notes. Open on the nose, with a clear bouquet of rosemary and thyme, rather aromatic. Very balanced palate, classic in the best of senses. A developed, mature wine but one that maintains style and elegance. Very good Rioja with a classic profile."

Wine Enthusiast - 93 p - "Dark garnet to the eye, this wine has a bouquet of pomegranate, dark plum and mocha with a hint of dried kitchen herbs. Durable tannins take hold of the palate, bearing flavors of purple fig, black cherry, dark chocolate, purple flowers and a hint of red-apple peel and then evaporate into a violet and ripe cherry finish."

James Suckling - 92 p - "Attractive aromas or ripe berries, violets, cinnamon, cardamom and nut shell. Medium-to full-bodied with firm tannins and a silky texture. Creamy and refined with a chocolatey mouth-feel and a savory finish. Drink or hold."

Wine Spectator - 91 p - "A tightly meshed, medium- to full-bodied red, with savory cigar box, black licorice and tar accents to the saturated flavors of blackberry paste and fig cake. Reveals a dark, brooding side, but there's also good balance and pleasing balsamico acidity. Chewy finish."

Tim Atkin - 90 p - "Yields were way down here in the frost year of 2017, unsurprisingly so given that the bodega's vineyards are divided between badly affected Ábalos and San Vicente, but the Reserva turned out fine in the end. Serious, gutsy and concentrated, it's a layered, structured Tempranillo with black cherry and damson fruit and toasty, smoky oak. Drink 2024-29."