This is a classic Reserva Rioja, from our trusted makers at Bodegas Olarra. We’ve never been let down by their wines before, and we don’t imagine you will be, either. As you may know, there’s some serious rules around making a Rioja wine. Yes, there’s ageing stipulations for minimum ageing and time in oak (in this case a combination of 65% American oak and 35% new French Allier barriques), but also on the calibre of the fruit itself. You know what you’re getting is certified quality; and that’s before Olarra have even had the chance to make their mark on it.

This wine was picked on the riper side, so there is an abundance of juicy fruit character balancing the sweet and spicy oak. At four years old, all elements are starting to harmonise and the oak tannin is slightly softening. The colour is vibrant ruby and the fruit is on the plush side, balanced by that tannin. Bloody hell, if we could drink wines like this every day we would be living a good life.