2012 Lealtanza Reserva Rioja Spain 750 ml

Reserve Rioja, Aged for You

97 points at $25? We know, it’s hard to believe, but today it’s true. Despite its status as Spain’s top winemaking region, Rioja remains a beacon for value seekers, and this red is one of the region’s best bargains.

The 2012 Lealtanza Reserva captures all the beautiful, spicy, savory characteristics that come to a Rioja with age—pipe tobacco, Morrocan spice, cedar—and wraps it in a cashmere smooth texture. But don’t just take our word for it. The 2012 Lealtanza Reserva earned 97 points and a platinum rating in a blind tasting at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards. Decanter hailed, “Rounded and layered aromas of dried fruits, red cherry, smoke and coconut,” adding, “It is, simply, a beautiful wine with the X-factor.”

La Rioja is arguably Spain’s greatest wine region, and within it, the most age-worthy bottles (including this one) are produced in Alta Rioja. The region’s high elevation produces cooler temperatures, preserving acidity in Tempranillo, while the soils—chalky, calcareous clay—yield wines with more pronounced tannins. Acidic verve and a strong tannic backbone are prerequisites for a wine to age well, and the Tempranillo grapes within Lealtanza soaked up both in the vineyard. Add in 18 months of barrel aging in 100% French Oak, and its power has been beautifully tempered, ushering in stunning flavor and a cashmere texture.

After six years in bottle, the 2012 Lealtanza Reserva Rioja is showing gorgeous complexity of flavor, marrying dried cherry and currant with spicy, meaty notes of black tea and leather. The acid continues to provide lift and zest on the long finish, which is seamlessly woven with toasty oak influence. These perfectly cellared bottles disappeared when we first introduced Lealtanza to American shores, and we are thrilled to be back with more.

Under-$30 wines with 97-point ratings, raised directly from winery cellars don’t come around that often. When they do, we jump.