Weekly Wine Review - Spanish Red - 2005 Señor de Lesmos Rioja Reserva

Wine aging is not always just about the oak barrels for Spanish reds. Take this wine, which is aged a total of 27 months in those good ole' oak barrels, but then is moved into concrete vats for more than a year. Some winemakers believe that cement provides cleaner flavors with less risk of imparting unwanted flavors compared to oak barrels.

Wine: 2005 Señor de Lesmos Rioja Reserva

Region: Rioja, Spain
Grape Varieties: Tempranillo

Obtained from: Purchased at K&L Wines, Hollywood, CA

Price: $20

Wino4Life Category: Weekend Wine

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

Cork Condition: Natural cork - no defects or issues.

Appearance: Clear, beautiful dark red with a pink rim.

Aroma: Cherries, red and black, spices and a bit of green herbs.

Taste: Nice acidity, silky tannins, and a long and delicious finish.

The Grade: I give this one an A. Concrete does a wine good! This wine is a very nice one for just $20. Concrete... it's not just for sidewalks anymore!