Rioja Vega Con Gracia Graciano 2020 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 92/100

Rioja Vega Con Gracia from Rioja D.O.C.A. is a rare, limited-production 100% Graciano of striking power and elegance, with a deep, brooding nose of crushed sloe berry, macerated mulberry, bittersweet liquorice root, clove-studded orange peel and a thread of damp clay that gives way to a bold, concentrated palate with robust, well-knit tannins and a long, savory finish dusted with wild thyme and black pepper. Head winemaker Esperanza Elias, named in The Drinks Business Top 100 Winemakers and at the helm of Rioja Vega since 2007, created this wine as a passionate tribute to Graciano, a grape traditionally used only as a blending component in Rioja, bringing it into the spotlight as a single-varietal bottling of just 4,420 numbered bottles sourced from carefully selected micro-parcels at 415 metres altitude. The wine was aged using a fascinatingly diverse approach, with 18 new barrels drawn from seven different cooperages with nine distinct origins and toasting levels, a layering of oak influences that adds tremendous texture and complexity without ever overpowering the grape's vivid, aromatic character. Notably, Con Gracia swept the International Wine Challenge 2025, taking the Rioja Graciano Trophy, the Rioja Trophy, and the Spanish Red Trophy in a single competition. Serve it slightly below room temperature alongside a thick-cut grilled ribeye steak with chimichurri, where the wine's bold structure and savory depth find a natural match; its intensity is equally at home with a slow-braised beef short rib with roasted garlic and red wine jus. Cellar through 2034.

Graciano food pairings: grilled ribeye steak with chimichurri, slow-braised beef short ribs with roasted garlic and red wine jus, roasted lamb shoulder with herb crust and white beans.

Best Beef Wine

This Rioja Vega Con Gracia Graciano 2020 was reviewed on April 28, 2026 by Natalie MacLean

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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.

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