Tempranillo
150cl * 13% ABV * Rioja, Spain
Lopez de Heredia famously age all of its output far longer than their contemporaries - even their white wines - in order to develop the complex, oxidative aromas and flavours that come from extended maturation in oak and in bottle, and ensure that they are quite ready to drink. A deep garnet, with a fading rim indicative of its age, it requires a short decant to get the most out of it, but with air soft red cherry, vanilla, leather, olive, liquorice - its complexity knows no bounds. Relatively light for those accustomed to modern big and bold Rioja, but straddles somewhere in style between the Rhone and Burgundy. A long-lived, highly praised wine of which its devotees just can't get enough.