2019 Bodegas Hermanos Pecina Senorio de P. Pecina Cosecha Rioja 750 ml

Pedro Peciña didn’t bolt after 18 years at one of Rioja’s most iconic estates to make forgettable wine—he left to make his own mark on the region.

He’s done that, and then some.

The Wine Advocate dubbed Bodegas Hermanos Peciña “a new classic,” and New York Times critic Eric Asimov called them “one of my favorite Rioja producers.” Even better, you do NOT need to break the bank to understand what all the fuss is about—you only have to taste this 2019 Senorio de P. Peciña Cosecha. 

The youngest, most vibrant offering in Peciña’s lineup, it combines meticulous winemaking and superb pedigree in a complex crowd-pleaser—and it comes from one of the best Rioja vintages of the century. The Rioja DOCa Control Board has rated every single vintage since 1925, and while they dish out plenty of “Good” and “Very Good” ratings, they’ve only labeled 15 vintages as “Excellent” (their top rating), and 2019 was one of them.

Pedro Peciña is one of Rioja’s terroir masters, a man Master of Wine Tim Atkin praised as “a wizard in the vineyards.” As the longtime vineyard manager for the famed La Rioja Alta winery in Rioja, Peciña developed an eagle eye for spotting the best sites for viticulture. For his eponymous project, he selected several plots at elevations up to 1886 feet in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria Mountains near the renowned winemaking village of San Vicente. 

Unlike many Rioja bottlings, this wine doesn’t see any oak, making it a fresh expression of juicy, savory Tempranillo. It’s practically begging for a heaping mound of Manchego and jamón—and at this price, you’ll be looking for excuses to pop one open.