Winery Notes: Very aromatic on the nose, highlighting the ripe fruit with balsamic tones and a hint of mint that result in a wine of great complexity and elegance. Full bodied and rounded, a classic reserva with a long and persistent finish that lingers on the palate.

Prima Notes: Another stunning entrant into the ‘how the heck does Spain keep doing this’ sweepstakes is this surprisingly complex, complete package of a Reserva from a thirty-year old family-owned property in the heart of Rioja.  This beautifully-made Reserva, from 100% Tempranillo, is painstakingly aged for three years in a combination of French and American oak giving this elegant red an impressive amount of depth, spice and layers of flavor.  Striking the perfect balance between its middle-weight raspberry-cherry inflected fruit, its secondary notes of black and white pepper, aniseed, herb, wood smoke and clove and its woodsy, long, very silky finish, it’s a wine made for immediate gratification, especially when there are platters of smoked ham, salami, cheeses, nuts and dried fruit on the table.  Or enjoy this just-rustic-enough red with a paella, some smoky patatas bravas or a good old-fashioned roast chicken.  Savory, delicious and, oh-my-goodness, is it ever priced amazingly well.  This kind of quality farming and winemaking, were it made elsewhere, would cost like four times the price!  Viva Espana!