La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Especial Reserva 1997

Brick-tinged medium red. Plum, camphor and smoky oak on the nose, though there's a faintly tired, woody note lurking underneath. Fruit shows decent weight at entry but fades through the mid-palate, and the acidity feels jagged rather than focused, more disruptive than refreshing. The woody off-notes trail into the finish without resolution. Drink now; this won't find better days ahead.