Cosme Palacio, Rioja 2005, Spain ($18.99)

There's that something that a good rioja has has no other wine has. That is why I count rioja as my absolute favourite wine. That something is always there in the gran reservas. But this is not a gran reserva. This wine got a good write up in The Age, and yes, it is well made and correct, but that is where it ends. Nothing distinctive. Rock my boat? No. Not worth the a return visit.