This 2018 from San Vicente is everything a Rioja should be. It is made from the lower yielding sister of the Tempranillo we all know and love, the Tempranillo Peludo, which means ‘hairy Tempranillo’ distinguished by the small fibres that cover the underside of its leaves.

Marcus, the winemaker’s son convinced his father to plant this special variation and have since been pursuing extreme quality over quantity. This concentration provides more intensity and complexity of fruit flavour, making the end result an exceptional Rioja full of spicy fruit, perfectly ripe tannins and extra complexity from ageing in primarily French oak.

Enjoy with

Spiced roast duck breast basted with cherries would be hard to beat alongside this sublime red.