2014 Viñedos de Páganos "El Puntido" Gran Reserva Rioja

A slightly more ethereal expression of Rioja despite the rich, dark fruit with cloves and a mossy, citrusy character. A bit of savoriness with forest floor as well. On the palate, this is firm and lightly chewy with nice fluidity and a long, fresh finish. 100% tempranillo. Aged 28 months in new French oak.

Rioja is unlike any other wine region in the world, famous for cellaring wines far longer than nearly any other region in the world. And the best part is that these perfectly matured wines are released without the premium you might expect. Another great example of this tradition is the the 2014 “El Puntido” Gran Reserva Rioja. This gorgeous wine is made by the acclaimed Eguren family, whose vineyard-driven wines have helped define modern Rioja – some of their other well-known wineries include Sierra Cantabria and Señorio de San Vicente. The “El Puntido” comes from a single vineyard of the same name, planted in 1975 at approximately 600 meters in elevation. This 100% Tempranillo balances the concentrated fruit you’d expect from a high density, old vine vineyard with the freshness and mineral-driven character of Rioja Alavesa. A somewhat challenging vintage makes this bottling all the more impressive: the Egurens’ rigorous selection and meticulous sorting have produced a wine of impressive elegance. Aged for 28 months in new French oak and nearly a decade in bottle, it offers an enticing mix of ripe plum, wild cherry and blackberry, layered with cedar, tobacco, coffee beans and dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied but graceful, with supple, well-integrated tannins, lively acidity and a long, polished finish. This is Rioja for those who appreciate the rewards of maturity, combining the richness of modern Tempranillo with the savory complexity that arises over years of aging. With fantastic scores from the critics, including 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck, and a price of just $89.99, this is a fantastic opportunity to put a serious, cellar-worthy Rioja from one of Spain’s great wine families on your table.