Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.
Red Wine
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 2016, Rioja, Spain: Gran Reserva 904 commemorates the 1904 merger that brought founder Daniel Alfredo Ardanza's own winery into La Rioja Alta, and the wine remains one of the house's most celebrated, blending mostly Tempranillo with a smaller share of Graciano matured patiently in American oak. Earthy and complex, it shows wild mushroom, a smoky char, dried fig, and warm clove across a remarkably wide range of aromas, while the palate stays poised and lively, tannins still showing through a finish that holds on well past the first sip's memory. This was the first vintage labelled Selección Especial, a real Gran Reserva worth buying by the case. So appealing already, it will only deepen over the next two decades. Food pairings: roast duck, mushroom risotto, aged hard cheese. Drink: 2026 - 2034 91975 12.5% XD 750 mL $164.00 Score: 100/100. September 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
White Wine
Marqués de Murrieta Capellanía 2020, Rioja, Spain: Capellanía comes from Marqués de Murrieta's namesake vineyard, where most vines are over a century old, making it one of only two white wines the estate produces and a rare example of long-aged, oak-fermented Rioja Blanco done with real precision. The nose carries a flinty edge together with roasted hazelnut and a faint kiwi-like brightness, while energetic acidity keeps the wine feeling lighter than its substantial body would suggest. The finish runs long and clean, balancing real fullness with a softness on the tongue that's hard to pull off. One of the finest examples of traditional white Rioja, and well worth aging further. Drink it now and pair it with oysters Rockefeller, crab cakes, or fresh shrimp. Food pairings: oysters on the half shell, ceviche, grilled prawns. Drink: 2026 - 2032 230011 14% XD 750 mL $167.00 Score: 97/100. September 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart