2012 Rioja Reserva

An older vintage library wine, 2012 Reserva is brimming in refined tannins, with an earthy, herbaceous profile of great depth and Old World sensibility. The red fruit at its core remains fresh and still relatively concentrated. This exceptional vintage had a snowy winter, but summer was hot and dry, with September hailstorms but relatively limited damage. For the Reserva and Gran Reserva, the producer typically adds 2-5% white grape skins to add acidity and structure, as well as color as the wine ages (the whites darkening rather than lightening). This is a tremendous, medium to full-bodied wine, able to go another 5-7 years.