Don Jacobo Rioja Gran Reserva 2010

Description

It’s a real treat to get an aged wine like this these days, particularly at such an accessible price.

Selected from old vine Tempranillo (85%), Grenache and Mazuelo (aka Carignan) grown on the hillside of Moncalvillo just south of Burgos and the Camino de Santiago in Rioja Alta. This gets a whopping 3 years in American oak barrels prior to bottling, then add another 9+ years in bottle maturation for a sense of the investment in time here.

Opaque and deep brick red going towards mahogany in colour, with lustrous, glass-coating tears, this should be decanted for a few hours prior to diving in. The nose is rich and powerful but defined by the seamless integration of dark fruit, chocolate, leather, coffee and pencil shavings galore, with warm spice notes including cinnamon, clove, vanilla and sweet tobacco. Rich, full and smooth on the open, melt-in-the-mouth tannins give way to layer upon layer of dried black fruit compote, dark chocolate, cigar box, coffee bean minerality, toasted nuts, Christmas spices and sweet molasses. A total stunner.

You only live once: go all out and serve up with beef wellington or roast spring lamb.