This wine reveals a medium ruby/garnet color with amber at the edge. The full blown nose offers up smoked herbs, dried fruits, tobacco, cedar, and an aged, attractive, smoky, curranty smell. In the mouth, the wine is soft, with ripe fruit, generosity and ampleness, excellent purity, and plenty of toasty oak in a smooth-as-silk, mature Rioja flavor profile. It should drink well for 3-4 years. Importer: William J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd., Armonk, NY; tel. (914) 273-1221

Chewy for a Rioja, this maturing red offers gamy and roasted fruit aromas, with ripe flavors of plum, prune and tobacco. The tannins are still firm but well integrated, and traditional notes of spice and cedar emerge on the finish. Drink now through 2000.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add