2009 Bodegas Manzanos Siglo Gran Reserva Rioja 750 ml

By mid-September 2009, growers in Rioja didn’t know what to think.

Winter and spring started off cold and wet, but farmers who’d shivered while pruning and shoot-thinning found themselves absolutely roasting through the summer—and concerned whether the grapes would develop properly or shrivel away. Then, in the second week of September, a torrent of rain hit from out of nowhere. It was a saving grace that restored life to the vines and catalyzed growth, but it fostered new worries: Would there be too much water? 

Thankfully, the weather soon turned crystal-clear and dry, and producers were able to harvest their grapes under perfect conditions. This meteorological push-pull created concentrated wines with great liveliness and the deliciously rich fruit, and people quickly realized that ‘09 would be special. 

As soon as wines hit the market, Wine Advocate proclaimed 2009 one of the best few years of the decade, calling it “an exceptional vintage.” The wines were delicious—and immediately appealing. If you were one of the thousands who drank them in their youth, we wouldn’t blame you.

If you wanted to taste the vintage at its absolute best, though, patience was required. 

Today, Bodegas Manzanos’ 2009 Siglo Gran Reserva is the opportunity we dreamed of over a decade ago: an old school Spanish gem that has blossomed in bottle.

This beautiful red is finally ready to grace your table, especially if you’re planning on serving a hearty paella Valenciana carefully cooked over the smoldering embers of pruned grapevines, but it’ll serve you equally well if you’re keeping it simple and grabbing a rotisserie chicken on your way home. In any setting, this wine is a delight.