Appellation: Rioja DOCa, Rioja Alavesa (Samaniego)
Grape Varieties: 100% Tempranillo
This has dark fruit, blackberries with graphite and dark olives, with a floral blueberry note. Medium- to full-bodied, with precise but rich fruit and elegant, ethereal precision. This is special tempranillo from a vineyard planted at high altitude in calcareous limestone at 720 m, which is extremely high in the context of Rioja, with a savory touch on the finish. Drink or hold.
Score: 96 points -- Jacobo García Andrade, jamessuckling.com, 2026
Food Pairing: A bone-in ribeye grilled over coals, salted simply and served rare.