BULK BUY!
100% Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain.
SRP of $25 and normally available for around $20 but Wine-Searcher is currently showing the low price as $12.99, which is a steal! Sample submitted for review. Imported by Vinaio.
From the bottle:
“This beautiful red wine from Rioja, Spain, shows very well with red meats, stews, mature cheese and, of course, with roasted lamb and kid [goat], the classical pairing for Rioja Reserva & Gran Reserva wines!
13.5% Alcohol”
Today’s wine is a Gran Reserva which means it was aged for at least 24 months in oak casks (French oak in this case) and then spent several more years in the bottle before being released. It’s one of the great thing about wines from Rioja — they are not released until they are ready to drink. For a refresher on the different levels (crianza, reserva, etc.) of Rioja wines, check out this post.
The 2004 Marques de Vitoria Rioja Gran Reserva begins with a wonderfully complex and very aromatic nose full of black cherry, vanilla, spice, clove and coffee. I love it. The wine tastes silky smooth with tons of rich tart fruit, layers of vanilla and spice and some pleasant earthy undertones. It’s fabulously delicious and it only gets better after a couple hours in the glass. It ends long and dry. Definitely a Bulk Buy!
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
