Medium ruby to garnet in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, sandalwood, plums, dry cherry, a touch of vanilla bean, leather, cinnamon, all spice, red peppers & raspberry. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidy & long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Points: The Marqués De Riscal Reserva has been on the LCBO general list as long as I can remember & always consistent in taste, which is very good. Best part is the LCBO usually has this wine on sale periodically throughout the year.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with grilled lamb chops.

Tasted: 25 June 12

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

The 2006 Marqués De Riscal Reserva, same as the 2005 vintage, is composed of Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo (Cariñena) and was aged in American oak for 26 months. It is a light to medium bodied, integrated wine, with on-the-lighter-side appealing notes of red currant, cedar and vanilla. It has a nice food friendly acidity, tannins that are still grippy (decant for 1+ hour) and a medium to long finish. It seems to be closed off even after an hour of decanting, suggesting that perhaps aging for couple of years may open it up - drink 2013 to 2018. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 89 pts. Tasted Apr/12.

If you would like to see wines I recommend and that are still available at the LCBO, please visit this link (listed in my profile):
http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy