Rioja Reserva 2013 Marques de Riscal

Named European Winery of The Year in Wine Enthusiast's 2013 Wine Star Awards, Marques de Riscal is one of Rioja's legendary estates. In 1858 Herederos de Marqués de Riscal became the first winery in the Rioja to produce wines following the Bordeaux method of slow fermentation and careful blending. A classic Rioja wine, the Marqués de Riscal Reserva is 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and Mazuelo from 30- to 40-year-old vines. A hand selection and triage is done as the grapes come in to the winery and only the best grapes of the vintage are selected for use in the Reserva. After slow, temperature controlled fermentation that brings deep color and extract, the wine spends approximately two years in American oak barrels, creating a fine structure and added complexity but extended bottle age as required for Reserva brings soft, supple tannins along with delightful fruit and spice that linger on a long finish.

Just awarded 94 points in the Ultimate Wine Challenge. They said "Smoke, dried blackberry, tar and dry rose petals are complex and delicious aromas. A soft and dusty tannic structure plays nicely with the balsamic macerated strawberry flavors, underpinned with dried herbs and a final toasty note on the finish."