Bodegas Corral – Don Jacobo Reserva 2009 – Rioja

The colour is indicating some maturity, there is a medium deep ruby-red core, but it is lighter on the rim. The nose is also indicating a certain maturity there. Far from primary fruit, more on dried fruit, prune, dried berry fruit, dried herbs, some vanilla and oak. Palate has medium weight, still with a certain austerity on the mid palate, in the shape of tannin. Quite fine, but still present there. It is a style that has gotten ageing in oak for sure because we still have some presence of wood and vanilla. There is a certain complexity on the finish with those spicy notes, dried herbs, dried spices. I would call this a quite traditional style, with a long ageing in oak. So a wine that is certainly ready to drink, could probably go on. I would perhaps like to give it some more time for the last tannins to round off, but quite a classic example otherwise.

Tasted by the Best Sommelier of the World, Andreas Larsson.