Berberana Gran Reserva Rioja D Avalos

I enjoyed this wine tremendously. It has a rich fruity aroma and taste. Excellent with a meat dish or all on its own on a cold windy Scottish evening.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Everything you expect from a gran reserva Berberana...full,juicy and yummy

This review is for the 2004 vintage

This is a great wine. Robust complex flavour with just the right amount of oak in the taste.... it's definately there but not harsh or overpowering. Warming and sophisticated, one of the best Rojas's that I have had in quite a while

This review is for the 2004 vintage

This is a great wine for most occasions either on its own or with a good meal with some heat to it as it brings the flavour out even more....

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Bought a dozen bottes of this when on offer recently and I have to say I was hugely impressed, smooth and subtle with that slight 'brickiness' (in a good way) that you get with serious clarets. It's a lot more subtle and complex than most Riojas I have tasted, with a wonderful finish, a real 'grown up' wine. I find Riojas can be a cost effective alternative to the generally more pricey clarets but usually more two dimensional than their French coussins. As for the 2004 Berberana, though, I've had cru bourgois (and even classed growth) clarets that would not stand comparison to this excellent wine.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Very drinkable for the price. My favourite red wine of the moment.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

I have had some of the grand reserve 2004 before and always rated it very highly. My partner and I have bought a few cases of this for our wedding and have checked/sampled a couple of bottles. My goodness me. Wonderful! Even better than we remembered it. In fact it's definitely streets ahead of the 2003, 2005 and 2007 (the other more easily available grand reserves). It doesn't need to breath for too long (though I'd give it 20 minutes min.). The bouquet is wonderful and full without being nasal or overbearing. On the palate it's very warm, generous but again without being too much. Afterwards is the real joy, an explosion of fruit and berry's. Simply wonderful.

Good colour, lovely bouquet, needs to be opened a while before drinking, then it offers a good juicy mouthful of full flavour, leaving long "legs" on the glass. One of my favourite everyday wines.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

I am amazed at the few that have given this gorgeous Rioja such a negative review..if they think this is a 'bad wine' then they should stick to drinking their normal meths or 20-20... Not many decent wines can be corked and drank straight away...this is up there, but it does improve the longer it can breathe...

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Tried a case of this Gran Reserva Rioja , encouraged by the current special offer. The wine did not taste like a Gran Reserva at all ! Rather thin and bitter on the palate . "Cheap and Nasty " comes to mind as an appropriate epithet . Moral ; if its on such an enticing offer .... avoid !!

This review is for the 2004 vintage

This is a great Rioja, had to give it 5 stars because of price. Already placed order for 2 more cases

This review is for the 2004 vintage

This wine has a rich, deep colour, super nose with a hint of cherries, a wonderful softness on the palate with a long finish. Perfect for any red meat dish. Highly recommended, especially for lovers of good Rioja.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

I have always had high regard for the Berberana label having bought other vintages in the past. This 2004 is a gem and ranks highly amongst the Riojas I have drank. At 6.99 my price it was a steal so if still around jump in. Is probably still worth over £10 if you can afford.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

The price attracted me as did the title of Gran Reserva Rioja! We drink Rioja frequently and this wine did not live up to expectation. No way was this as full bodied and rich as we would expect and have always had previously from Gran Reservas. It seems to me that nowadays you cannot rely on titles such as reserve or gran reserve when buying Rioja as clearly there are some "plain" Rioja's out there superior in quality and taste to reserve or Gran Reserva!

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Excellent value for money, especially when you buy it by the box from Tesco. full bodied smooth red wine.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Really enjoy this wine with all red meat dishes and even with cheese. We buy it whenever it comes up on half price sale as its so worth it, so can afford to drink it more often rather than on special occasions at full price.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

This, for the money, is a fine Rioja straight out of the bottle. Doubtless some of the depth of flavour will intensify with storage but at the offer price this is a lovely smooth Rioja. Recommended.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

We have recently been drinking Berbarana Reserva 2006, (having bought the wine well over two years ago), which is excellent. We have drunk one Bottle of the Gran Reserva and were disapointed to find it a little "thin"; however, we will rack the other 11 bottles for at least a year or possibly two, before openig another one.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

I was disappointed by thix wine - and I'd have been extremely disappointed if I'd paid te full price it's listed at now. I got it in early January at an extremely good offer price. So I can tolerate its 'thin' texture and the lack of the kind of depth and body I look for in a Rioja. It will be fine for a casual lunch with friends who aren't really wine-buffs. But I shalll not be buying it again, whatever the price!

This review is for the 2004 vintage

This vintage is a classic example of a very fine Rioja. At the price it is fantastic value!

This review is for the 1994 vintage

Smooth and subtle, big and mouthfilling. Very chewy gran reserva.Again -what a smashing price, I wouldn't have bought at full price as my budget doesn't allow, but at half price this is tremendous value. The Old World wines when you get a cracker like this knock The New World efforts into a cocked hat. So much more flavour in the mouth , better finishes, less density , more layers. If you can get it at half price just buy it. It won't be drinking like this for much longer, it's one to buy and use not to lay down.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Purchased this wine after reading the good reviews, and we were not disappointed, it is a full bodied smooth wine, will be ordering more.

I must admit to being no connoisseur of red wine, however, I do drink a fair amount and know what I like. This Rioja was exactly as I expected and was the one that I sent to 15 of my business clients, and those who commented agreed on its excellent attributes. I would highly recommend this particular wine to anyone who is looking for a quality gift or who is looking to provide a nice bottle of red at a dinner or for an evening.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Exceptionally smooth peppery Rioja. Who needs food this is great on its own in front of a log fire. Ok perhaps a nice piece of cheese will be good.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Full bodied, full flavoured and lovely to drink. Everyone who tried this said how nice it was, really enjoyable, would highly recommend.

Love Rioja and love this one in particular. It warms the soul to drink something so splendid

This review is for the 2004 vintage

In a year to remember (according to Rioja wine buffs) this Gran Reserva should be stunning. It isn't: being too light in body: but it is smooth and balanced, making it good value at this price.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Always good and will not disappoint. Best to wait until it is on offer though – it is often at half price. It’s a regular resident in my wine rack and is enjoyable….

Smooth with lovely deep fruit flavours. A excellent buy when on offer.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

There are plenty of Rioja deals about but it is difficult to choose one that works out for the wine lover. This one proved excellent. The wine needs plenty of air time after drawing the cork and also benefits from being at room temperature.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

An excellent 'old style' Rioja. Rich and elegant with a long finish. An absolute steal at the offer price.

This review is for the 2006 vintage

One of my absolute favourites, the 2006 vintage seems to be the best. A wonderfully fruity and full-flavoured wine, suitable to drink on it's own or with red meats. Highly recommended.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

I first bought this wine in store when it was on offer for £6. I then bought more on line at £8 because it had returned to £15.99 in store. This will be one of our christmas day tipples. Very special

This review is for the 2004 vintage

A very pleasant easy-drinking wine, absolutely top quality. Very good value at half price!

This review is for the 2004 vintage

A good and full structure giving lots of after taste and being soft on the palate. The fruit flavours linger to give a pleasantly rounded taste and so making it a wine to go with most meals other than strong chilli dishes. Have found "Berbarana" wines to be reliable in most vintages giving good value at the lower price end.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

An old favourite from Tesco that we just keep re-ordering - deliciously smooth and fruitful. A great buy.

Bought this for my husband and ended up drinking a good bit of it myself. Smooth and delightful on it's own or with food. If you want a dependable Rioja without spending a fortune this is the one for you.

Has plenty of body and is smooth delivering excellent power. The initial taste is a surprise on the upside. The real test of good wine is that it doesn't last long as people's glasses are soon empty

This wine is so worth getting and enjoying with a loved one, only buy when on offer and get more then for your money

This review is for the 2004 vintage

As a standard wine drinker with no wine tasting experience to speak of other than enjoying a glass of wine with a meal. I liked this smooth sophisticated wine, gorgeous aromas which complement autumnal and wintery foods. Deep plum colouring with a wonderful tang! Loved it....

This review is for the 2004 vintage

By comparison to wines sold as Gran Reserva in mainland Spain and the Balearics this does not come up to scratch quality-wise.

Soft and full bodied. Smokey, leathery aroma and very smooth. Recommended for introducing to people who say they don't like red wine!

This wine offers the spicy, fruity attack expected from a good gran reserva. The mouth-feel is surprising, for a wine of this price, and represents excellent value for money. Try it with roast lamb, duck or pheasant.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

Fillet steak or spaghetti bolognese was invented for this wine. It is not for the dainty faint hearted sippers of this world as it is to be quaffed in fine style and preferably in good company. It would have deserved 5 stars but I hear that the 2005 is even better.

This review is for the 2004 vintage

I buy a lot of Spanish Rioja's from Tesco wine club so when this Reserva was offered at a good price purchase 6 bottles along with other wines but i have been most disappointed with its taste as it is a bit harsh and unpleasant and of poor flavour compared to much cheaper Rioja's on offer i did not retain my receipt or would have taken back but would never buy again.

This review is for the 2006 vintage

The wine is very good but it is not worth the full price, it should only be priced around £8.99