Surface-Level Rioja. Deep ruby heralds a wine that promises more than it delivers. With red berries, plum, and a tease of spice on the nose, one hopes for a journey that never quite begins. The palate, while friendly with ripe black cherry and a whisper of oak, moves through its medium body with smooth tannins, but without the depth or complexity one craves from a Rioja, leaving an impression more forgettable than memorable.