Cuvées

Amancio

4.6

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Sierra CantabriaRioja€€€€€€€€€Still Red

The Eguren family's icon Tempranillo from old Sonsierra vines: dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak, one of modern Rioja's prestige reds.

Aro

4.7

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Bodegas MugaRioja€€€€€€€€€€Still Red

Muga's icon wine, a tiny-production Tempranillo-Graciano from old vines aged in new French oak; concentrated, polished and ageworthy, the house's collector bottle.

Aurus

4.6

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Finca AllendeRioja€€€€€€€€€Still Red

Miguel Angel de Gregorio's icon red from old Briones vines, aged in new French oak; dense, polished and mineral with great longevity.

Castillo Ygay Blanco Gran Reserva Especial

4.8

Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Marques de MurrietaRioja€€€€€€€€€€Still White

An extraordinarily rare white Gran Reserva, released decades after the harvest; the 1986 was relaunched to acclaim, with profound nutty, waxy oxidative complexity and electric acidity.

Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

4.9

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Marques de MurrietaRioja€€€€€€€€€Still Red

The estate's flagship from the Ygay vineyard, released only in exceptional years after a decade-plus of ageing; the 2010 was named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 2020, a savoury, classical Gran Reserva of great longevity.

Cirsion

4.7

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Bodegas RodaRioja€€€€€€€€€€Still Red

Roda's icon: selected old-vine Tempranillo with super-ripe, plush tannins yet remarkable freshness, aged briefly in new French oak to preserve fruit purity.

Contador

4.8

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Bodega ContadorRioja€€€€€€€€€Still Red

Benjamin Romeo's cult garage wine from old San Vicente vines; deep, polished and powerful yet fresh. Multiple vintages have earned perfect 100-point scores from Wine Advocate.

Gran Reserva 890

4.9

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

La Rioja Alta S.A.Rioja€€€€€€€€€Still Red

The house's pinnacle Gran Reserva, made only in exceptional years and aged around six years in oak; ethereal, sandalwood-scented and extraordinarily long, a benchmark for traditional Rioja.

Gran Reserva 904

4.8

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

La Rioja Alta S.A.Rioja€€€€€€€€Still Red

A modern classic Gran Reserva: four years in American oak give the house's signature sweet-spice and dill lift over a silky, savoury, ageworthy Tempranillo frame.

Hiru Racimos

4.5

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Bodegas Luis CanasRioja€€€€€€€€Still Red

The estate's icon red from very old vines cropped to just three bunches per plant; dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak.

Imperial Gran Reserva

4.8

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

CVNERioja€€€€€€€€Still Red

Made only from Rioja Alta fruit in the best years; the 2004 was the first Spanish wine named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year in 2013. Classical, savoury and long.

Prado Enea Gran Reserva

4.7

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Bodegas MugaRioja€€€€€€€€Still Red

Muga's traditional flagship, made only in great vintages with long oak ageing in the bodega's own cooperage; a deeply savoury, classical Gran Reserva of real longevity.

Trasnocho

4.7

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

Remirez de GanuzaRioja€€€€€€€€€Still Red

The estate's cult prestige red, made only from the shoulders of the best bunches and aged in new French oak; dense, polished and mineral with great longevity.

Vina El Pison

4.9

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · High acidity · Bold · Contemplative

ArtadiRioja€€€€€€€€€€Still Red

Spain's most celebrated single-vineyard Tempranillo, from a tiny old-vine plot at Laguardia; intense yet ethereal, with floral lift, silky tannins and profound minerality.

Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva

4.9

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina TondoniaRioja€€€€€€€€€Still Red

Released only in great years and only after a decade-plus in the cellar; ethereal, savoury and impossibly fresh, the Gran Reserva is one of the wine world's great old-style reds.