Marques de Riscal Gran Reserva Rioja 2018

If you want to get the most bang for your buck in terms of quality, care, and artistry in a wine, the answer is almost always Gran Reserva Rioja. The standards of everything from sourcing and production to aging are top notch, and the wines themselves are simply gorgeous. This 96-point 2018 vintage is the perfect case in point... a purely divine red wine for your holiday festivities, and under $45!

Marques de Riscal is an estate steeped in rich history. Founded in 1858 in Elciego, Rioja, by Guillermo Hurtado de Amézaga, the estate became a pioneer of Spanish winemaking by introducing Bordeaux techniques and vine cuttings to Rioja. The winery released its first bottles in 1862 and earned international acclaim by winning the Diploma of Honour at the 1895 Bordeaux Exhibition. Always innovating, it helped to establish the Rueda D.O. in the 1980s and unveiled the stunning City of Wine complex with a Frank Gehry-designed hotel in 2006. With a focus on blending tradition and modernity, Marques de Riscal stands as one of Spain’s most historic yet forward-thinking wineries, and a symbol of Rioja’s enduring evolution.

This 2018 Gran Reserva comes from vines more than 80 years old, grown on estate vineyards and sourced from premier local growers alike. Gran Reservas use only the best juice in the most exceptional vintages, aging in oak barrels for at least two years before another three in bottle before release to the public. 2018 brought a slightly later than norm budbreak, followed by a rainy late spring and summer, interspersed with enough sun to allow the grapes to mature beautifully. Harvest fell later in the year due to the precipitation, but yielded excellent quality grapes and solid numbers.

The 100% Tempranillo is a wine of deeply rich and earthy character, with generous and fragrant notes of muddled blackberries, pureed raspberries, olive tapenade, and garrigue, all accentuated with mesmerizing nuances of red plums, espresso, trumpet mushrooms, blood orange peel, wild thyme, and damp forest floor. For under $45, there’s a whole lot going on here, with enough softness and restraint to easily enjoy now, but plenty of power to age another 10 to 15 years. 

PAIRING IDEAS: Whip up a simple stir fry with flank steak, sugar snap peas, and a simple soy sauce glaze over fluffy white rice. The spice and umami with the rich beef and bright peas will gorgeously play with the wine’s spicy and earthy elements