2012 La Granja, Gran Reserva, Remelluri, Rioja, Spain

With its beautiful, ripe-verging-on-rich nose, you immediately feel at home with this timeless Rioja. Despite the generous and enticing aromas, the palate is still tight at this stage. The tannins are super-fine but are gentler and more yielding than those of Las Beatas. There is a lovely dark backbone here with a gentle hint of perfectly integrated spice. The wine caresses the palate and finishes with an earthy note of just-picked blackberries. This wears its 28 months in oak lightly and is very sophisticated indeed. Drink 2022-2036.