San Vicente Rioja

Senorio de San Vicente, Rioja Tempranillo 1997 ($36) -- Canoca, Spain. Imported by Cutting Edge Selections. Aged in American and French oak barrel for 20 months and then bottled aged for 12 months. I have tasted this wine before, but today the cork crumbled out and appeared saturated. The vanilla nose was there but the color looked a touch like sherry so I was wary. I think this bottle was partially oxidized, but still had tannins and some structure but the elegant finish was gone. I remember this wine to be transcendent as it opened up over several hours, but not today. Oh well, I will have to try another bottle later!