Pagos de Tahola Rioja Reserva 2012

“Their value as fine wines is remarkable.” – Decanter

That was Decanter’s Andrew Jefford after tasting a flight of Rioja Reservas and comparing them to Bordeaux, where “you would need to spend between two and five times as much” to get equivalent quality. This was especially true in 2012, a vintage rated ‘Very Good’ by the Rioja Regulatory Council.

Talented winemaker Ruth Chavarri’s red Riojas are already big customer favorites. Her family’s made top-quality Rioja since 1882, and in a year like 2012, the flavor and value offered by their fine reds is truly hard to top. For this Reserva, Ruth carefully selected from their premium Tempranillo plots, whose 60-year-old, low-yielding vines produced extra-concentrated, ripe fruit in ideal harvest conditions. You’re in for waves of intense raspberry and strawberry flavor – and, like all the best Riojas, the mellow character and delicious complexity that result from patient aging (in this case, a year in fine French and American oak barrels and five-plus years in bottle).

As you’ll discover, the generous red-berry fruit is in perfect harmony with vanilla oak and gentle spice. The flavors are long-lasting and invite you to savor them with dry-cured Serrano or Ibérico ham. Or, for an authentic Riojan feast, with roast suckling pig.

This top-vintage Rioja Reserva is a superb value that’s made for sharing with good friends. Hurry for your share.