Garmón Continental Ribera del Duero 2020

If you love big and bold reds, from Napa to Bordeaux to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, you are going to lose your mind for this Garmón Continental... 100% Tempranillo, 96 points, and 35% off of a wine that Tim Atkin calls, “Subtle, refined and ethereal.” Yes, please!

Garmón Continental is a newer project from our favorite Ribera del Duero family producers, the Garcias. Mariano and his sons, Eduardo and Alberto, have just crushed it with sister wineries San Ramon and Mauro, which Mariano started after his reign as Vega Sicilia's winemaker since he was just 24 years old. He also was the mastermind behind Pintia and Aalto... so basically, he's an infallible legend when it comes to wineries.

In 2014, the family added Garmón Continental – and wow, is it a gem! Focusing on ancient Tempranillo vines (up to 100 years old) with low yields in the very heart of the Duero region, this is the only wine produced at this brand-new, state-of-the-art facility. 2020 is unquestionably one of the best efforts to date and will compete with heavy hitters around the globe at four, eight, or ten times the price! Master of Wine Tim Akin said this “deserves its reputation as one of the region's very best releases” and has gone so far as to classify Garmón as a First Growth for Ribera del Duero, alongside the legendary estates of Vega Sicilia and Pingus. You'd pay up to $400 for the Vega Sicilia Unico, and an astronomical $800+ for the Pingus! I'll take six of these for under $55 any day!

Raised for 20 months in all French oak barrels, this wine is powerfully structured, with considerable tannins and tension, but the cool continental climate lends an ethereal, high-toned entry loaded with white flowers, red berries, and cool vanilla. This is reminiscent of old-school Bordeaux, harmonizing floral aromatics with an edgy rusticity. The palate swells to reveal deep blueberry and blackberry notes, with lavender candies, fennel roasted over a wood fire, and a deep, mineral edge on the finish. This is a classic in the making and a true vision for Spain’s next superstar wine. At $54.95, this is a tremendous value and one you’ll be glad to have obtained before the world comes to realize what this is all about! Fortune favors the bold, indeed! While it lasts!

PAIRING IDEAS: Something as refined and elegant as this needs something hearty and rich, yet not too heavy. We’re frying up some crispy Pork Milanese, served over a bed of arugula with cherry tomatoes, freshly shaved parmesan, and lemon.