2010 Vina Herminia Rioja Reserva 750 ml

Rioja’s Rustic Majesty

For lovers of powerful, rustic Old World wines, few bastions of value remain as thoroughly as entrenched as the Tempranillo-based wines of Rioja. By comparison, Bordeaux’s prices are climbing steadily, and many of the more-affordable Rhône wines can be a little on the welterweight side.

Rioja, basking in ample sunshine in central Spain, continues to produce full-bodied, opulent reds kissed by Old World rusticity, often for pennies on the dollar in comparison to other regions. Today’s Viña Herminia Rioja Reserva is a phenomenal example of this axiom. We weren’t the only ones to notice — Wine Spectator pinpointed it as a “Smart Buy.” Here’s why.

Viña Herminia, owned by the same group that controls sherry’s famous Bodegas Lustau, is located in the Rioja Baja, but sources fruit from throughout the appellation. In 2010, the region was blessed with an exceptional fruit bounty. Wine Spectator gave the vintage its highest-ever score at 95 points, exceeding even the masterly 2001s and 2004s.

The core of fruit for Viña Herminia’s Rioja Reserve comes from vineyards on the slopes of Monte Yerga and Monte Argudo up to 2,300 feet in altitude. Added to this is exceptional fruit from the Alta and Alavesa sub-zones — all aged 18 months in barrel. Neither staunch traditionalists nor ardent modernists, Viña Hermina blends the best of both — the traditional savory American oak flavors mixed with the sweet spice of French oak. The aging continues at the bodega, with at least another 18 months in bottle before release.

All of nature’s complete love and affection were trained on the 2010 Viña Herminia Rioja Reserva — a classic blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha (Grenache) and 5% Graciano. Ruby-purple at the core, leading to a garnet rim. On the nose, dried Bing cherry and pomegranate fruits leap out of the glass, joined by Chinese five spice and aged balsamic. On the palate, the wine is velvety and rich in texture, powered by black raspberry and plum preserves, followed by dried red flowers, cigar box, and leather. Powerful, but supremely elegant, the finish lasts 30-45 seconds. Savory and fruit flavors are fully integrated, but the wine could easily age another 5-10+ years in the cellar.

What would you expect to pay for cellar-worthy Rioja, nearly 7 years after the vintage? One that Wine Spectator calls a “Smart Buy”? $45? $35? Our jaws dropped just as hard as yours will — a mere $16.99 per bottle. But only while these 75 cases last. Shipping included on 6. Don’t miss out.