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
Remelluri Reserva 2005, Rioja, Spain: Remelluri's Reserva can run big and ripe in warmer vintages, and this bottling leans firmly into that style, with dried fig, baked plum, and a worn-saddle, almost dusty quality building a sweet, generous profile. The palate carries real weight, loaded with dark berry character, smoky black tea, and warm clove, while a cooling menthol note and a touch of toasted almond linger at the very end. It's a richer, more concentrated expression than the house's typical elegance suggests, leaning hard into ripeness rather than restraint. Best enjoyed now while the fruit is still front and centre. Food pairings: braised short ribs, game stew, aged hard cheese. Drink: 2026 - 2028 52337 13.5% XD 1500 mL $348.50 Score: 92/100. September 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
White Wine
R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Gravonia Crianza 2018, Rioja, Spain: Viña Gravonia Crianza rarely gets the attention it deserves next to López de Heredia's more famous reds. Made from very old Viura that survived a difficult growing season using the same century-old methods the bodega has practised since 1877. Sea salt and a marzipan sweetness mingle with tangerine peel and a faint paraffin note, building real concentration and weight on the palate. The finish carries a pleasant, lingering bitterness that keeps the whole thing interesting long after the sip is gone. This remains one of the best-value entries in a portfolio whose prices have climbed steadily as demand for these singular wines has grown. Drink it now through 2033 with grilled lobster tail, prawns, or grilled halibut. Crianza food pairings: grilled lobster tails, prawns, grilled halibut steaks. Drink: 2026 - 2030 910711 13% XD 750 mL $60.00 Score: 96/100. September 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart