I have walked past this wine a hundred times and dismissed it. I missed the 01 and I've always thought I'd try the 03, a much better vintage in Rioja. After all how good can this be for $25, I can't be missing out on much surely? As it is turns out quite good. I was very happy to find a full, rich wine thats smooth and full of Rioja Alvesa character. Wines from Alvesa tend to have a lot of fruit, this was no exception.
Things have been a bit quiet on the site for the last couple of weeks, this was a good wine to get back on the horse with.
A deep cherry colour in the glass, surprisingly dark for the vintage. The nose is just what I am looking for, ripe, dusty cherry with cedary oak and spice. A middle weight in the mouth, smooth, ripe fruit tannins and good balance. Open, warm and inviting. Loads of brambly, cherry fruit, pepper, cinnamon with more of that cedary oak. By the time I realise I've finished the first glass, the tannins really come into their own with a silky texture and enhance the long finish. A good wine for a chilly spring night, fresh and well fruited, but warm and enticing. Very good now, but it will develop in the cellar over 5 years. 89 Pts.
Source: Retail Cost: $25 Closure: Conventional Cork
Web: www.habarcelo.es
Sounds like a wine i might enjoy. Thanks for the note. Great site BTW.
Just had a bottle of the 2001 Cosme (just under $25 from Dan Murphy’s here in Canberra). A good example of a mid-weight, dusty Riojan tempranillo. I’m not sure which parts of Rioja this fruit came from (perhaps Alavesa as with the ‘02), but it showed some good early-aged characters and smooth integration of fruit and acid. A lick of vanilla over the top almost had me thinking pinot noir, something the light-purple colour reinforced.
All of the grapes for Cosme come from Rioja Alavesa as far as I know…now I regret missing the 01 even more!
Righto then, I’ll have to see if I can grab another bottle for the next time you find yourself in Canberra.
Who rep’s Cosme?
I’m told that Coles import it, not sure who is rep’ing it around the place.
The current Cosme (I think they are on 06 now) is at Dan Murphy’s here in Canberra.
I had another bottle of the 01 Cosme last night, with a good biodynamic porterhouse from a local producer - both very good. One more bottle of the 01 remains, and I may save it for 2010 to see how it travels.
I’ll have to grab one of the 06’s, should be a decent drink.
I might have to make a flying visit here next month…