PRADO AYALA RIOJA - 2006

90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. Grown in Zone 3 in the town of la Guardia, Rioja in clay, limestone and sand soil.

TASTING NOTES:

Transparent purple-red color with barnyard, wild berries and cherry kirsch on the nose. Cherry, black pepper, Sweet Tarts and charred oak dominate the mid-palate with hints of green pepper and tart cherries on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 PTS

There's too much alcohol/heat on the back-end of this wine but it has very nice fruit for a $10 wine. Lots of Old World earthiness progresses to an explosion on the mid-palate of over-the-top Australian-esque fruit bomb. A very interesting wine worth exploring given its price.