2003 Pesquera Janus Gran Reserva
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Tasting notes
Tea leaves and vanilla. Grainy but fine. Good – but monstrously expensive, and no better than a Rioja Gran Reserva from the likes of Ardanza. (RH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Inky ruby. Expansive, highly perfumed scents of blackberry and blueberry preserves, cherry-cola and fresh flowers, plus a sexy incense note and a touch of vanilla. Completely stains the palate with dark berry and intense spicy flavors, with smoky minerals adding precision. Blends depth and vivacity with a deft hand and shows none of the exaggerated ripeness of the vintage, finishing with outstanding clarity and lingering sweetness. Fernandez opened a bottle of his 1978 Reserva, and its complex array of musky floral and spice qualities reminded me of an older Burgundy. This fine-grained, sweet and focused wine is fully mature but still a few years short of its downward slope.