James Suckling - August 2, 2018 - Sierra Cantabria Rioja Gran Reserva 2008 - 93/100
Some richness and density here, as well as freshness, in spite of the age. Ripe dark plums and berries swathed in spice and some mocha to close. In a good place. Drink or hold.

The Wine Advocate # 235 - 28th Feb 2018 - Luis Gutiérrez - 2008 Sierra Cantabria • Gran Reserva - 92/100 - $38 - 2018 - 2028
The 2008 Gran Reserva has been in bottle since 2011, so it's quite polished and developed. It's mostly Tempranillo with a 2% pinch of Graciano from vines over 30 years old in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, fermented at controlled temperatures and matured in American oak barrels for 26 months. It was a cold and wet vintage, and at this stage in its development, the wine shows very strong smoky aromas, toast and charred oak. At almost age ten, the fruit is fading into the background and there is more aromatic complexity. The palate shows very good freshness, with some acidity still noticeable from the vintage conditions and also from their use of higher-altitude vineyards for this bottling. 10,000 bottles produced.