Valserrano 'Finca Monteviejo' 2003, Bodegas Marquesa, Rioja
There are so many wonderful warming and rich adjectives that apply to Reserva and Gran Reserva Riojas but the word ‘sexy’ doesn’t usually apply. We first tasted Bodegas de la Marquesa’s single vineyard production in the 2001 vintage and were absolutely bowled over by this gorgeously generous, plush, lush, polished and vibrant wine. This is NOT the ethereal, lovely, friendly winter warmer that one expects from Spain’s most popular wine region, this single vineyard ‘Finca Monteviejo’ is jam-packed with bright, shiny and spicy, brambly fruit that bursts out of the glass and is just gorgeous with richer, red meat dishes and Spanish cooking. It is only lightly oaked (+/- 8 months) and the exceptionally warm weather in the 2003 vintage has created an even more impressively concentrated and dense, sweet wine than the 2001. Believe you me, this is the sexiest wine I have ever had from Spain and is up there with modern St. Emilions and top US wines in its sex appeal