Jeff - Wine Specialist, Sherman Oaks

Spain Delivers "Bang for Your Buck" Again!

Where else can you get a stunning wine that spends 18 months in oak and 18 months in the bottle for under $25?

Typically, older vintages are reserved for premium selections in our cellar, at least in a busy shop like ours, often with price tags to match. And… there are a select few gems hidden on the floor that are around a decade old, boast impressive stats, and sell in an affordable, sub-$30 price range.

That is the case for Familia Montaña Reserve from Rioja. A product of 5 generations in winemaking, the wine is 90% Tempranillo, 7% Graciano, and 3% Mazuelo, grown in clay/limestone soils. It spends 18 months in oak and another 18 months in the bottle before being released to market. Our current vintage is 2018, now just over 7 years after harvest... and the wine is drinking beautifully right now.

Upon opening, the fruit is bright and powerful, showing bold, dark cherry and white plum meat, and even a little apricot tartness (essentially, lots of bold stone fruit). The fruit is so plush, there is an initial impression of jamminess, but none of that shows on the palate. The body is light and lively, with the aforementioned cherry and plum flavors being front and center, supported with dry earthiness, sweet cinnamon bark, and a touch of clove spice. There is also a fair amount of pepper spice adding to the zesty quality of this wine. Tannins are light, which could be expected, given the age; this is an easy wine to drink.

Food pairings are wide, ranging from grilled meats, to hard cheese/charcuterie platters, to pizza, to… chocolate cake or truffles. The presence of cherry and the slightly bitter-earthy-cinnamon-clove spice quality makes this a tremendous red for dark chocolate desserts… or just dark-bitter chocolate.

All this for under $25?

This is a knockout wine at a knockout price.