Weekly Wine Review - Spanish Red - 2010 Bodegas y Vinedos Noe (BVN) Rioja

Most new wines I try I do at least some research, or I will seek out wines that I have read about that have intrigued me. Sometimes though - wine buying is about being impulsive.  For today's wine review - I purchased this wine just because it had a super cool metallic label.   My impulse buys have been more misses than hits - but there have been a few success along the way - let's see what this metallic monster has to offer!

Wine: 2010 Bodegas y Vinedos Noe (BVN) Rioja

Region: Rioja, Spain
Grape Varieties: Tempranillo & Garnacha

Obtained from: Purchased at Monipole Wine in Pasadena, California

Price: $15.00

Wino4Life Category: Everyday Wine

Aeration before tasting: Just a swirl or two, no special aeration.

This smells raw and minty, with an artificial candy note. It feels lean, with a green, weedy flavor of red fruit. It shows heat and scour on the finish. This is a blend of equal parts Tempranillo and Garnacha.

Cork Condition: Natural Cork - no defects or issues.

Appearance: Wine is clear (no cloudiness), with a dark red center and a water white rim.

Aroma: Lots of red fruit - cherries and raspberries, along with a good bit of herbal aromas. Some other interesting aromas including vanilla make for a very aromatic Rioja.

Taste: Very nicely balanced, a good level of acidity and just a bit of tannins. Full bodied enough to be a good match with food.

The Grade: I give this one a B+.  I give it a solid B based on overall aroma and flavor, as the herbal character is fairly pronounced. It does get a bit of a bonus up to a B+ for having a super cool, super unique wine label. This bottle would make a great gift or a conversation starter to bring to a party or dinner.