94/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2016

The 2004 Tinto Gloria Reynolds -Cathedral is an equal blend of Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet, aged in new French oak for 24 months.This is simply the old Gloria Reynolds Tinto with a new name, Cathedralonly indicating a re-release program. Julian Cuellar Reynolds said:Gloria Cathedral 2004 is an old harvest, the lot of every Gloria that Ikeep in the cellar for a second release after 12 years. I was not soldon this originally, but it is very impressive now that it is mature-andthat maturity is the key to success here. The tannins have moderated,the oak has been pulled in and, most importantly, there is a gloriousmedley of complex flavors typical of many maturing wines, some earth,forest floor, dried cassis and so on. The texture is gorgeous, too,silky and sensual. If the fruit seems fully mature, the structure stillgives it energy. The tannins are controlled, but there is still grip andtension on the finish. Perhaps it was the bottle, perhaps it was just meand undue conservatism, or perhaps the passage of time has allowed thisto blossom, but this is dramatically better than what I saw not quite adecade ago. It seems rather brilliant now and at peak. There is no goodreason to hold it further. In that regard, if I had a quibble here, itis aging pretty fast. For a wine at this level that is not even 13 yearsold, it seems overly mature. While that is indeed a huge plusnow--because harmony and complexity is why this succeeds at themoment-who knows what happens in another ten years? It won't fall offthe cliff, but it is hard to see it getting much better. Why risk itwhen this is singing such pretty songs now? Dive in.