NYT: 2001 Riojas

Read it in the (Spanish) morning and, while I agree that Asimov is a great wine writer, with a close to perfect balance to appeal both the winelover and the newcomer (I read Wednesday's Food and Wine special at NYT online, ask for globalisation), I'd say that Torre Muga never appealed to me. I did not taste the supposedly great 1994, but I think I tasted 98, 00 and 01 and none of them made me buy a single bottle.

I think Pagos de Villareal 2001 (a single vineyard from CVNE) was the best of the lot of Riojas I tasted in December 2004 at "La cata de los lacres" that was held in Madrid. I have never tasted Grandes Añadas, mostly because the price tag.

I miss Contino Viña del Olivo 2001 which, to me, is a quintaessential Rioja from a great vintage, and with a track record. Same with "La Viña de Andrés Romeo", the wine from Benjamín Romeo which I tasted one month ago and thought was outstanding. Señorío de San Vicente 2001, also tasted one month ago was either overoaked or underwined. Lots of toffee, but this is not what I look for in a wine (YMMV).