Marqués de Vargas Hacienda Pradolagar Rioja

This is all savory, showing its surprisingly traditional style (given that Michel Rolland consults here). The scent recalls spiced fruit leather, but the flavor revolves around gentle red cherry with a black pepper edge. The strength of this wine is in its harmony — it’s seamless, the fruit melding with the savory spice, and all invisibly supported by tannins. Good for sipping and thinking, or for a plate of top quality jamon de serrano.

Maturing now, this balanced red marries cherry, raisin, tobacco and spice flavors on a firm frame, with a moderate structure and a spicy finish. Drink now through 2006.

Very deep, ripe cherry color, with an intense and complex interior aroma due to its noble aging in new French oak casks. It offers elegant aromas and a warm and complex flavor, perfectly mingling tannins and acidity.