Valserrano – Tempranillo & Graciano – 2018
Rioja DOCa – Rioja Alavesa, Spain 🇪🇸
Overview
A classic Gran Reserva blend of Tempranillo with a small percentage of Graciano, aged extensively in oak and bottle. The 2018 vintage delivers depth, elegance, and maturity without excess weight, a refined display of Rioja Alavesa pedigree.
Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, dried fig, redcurrant, and plum layered with cedar, leather, vanilla bean, clove, and cocoa. Subtle dried herbs and balsamic notes appear with air, adding savory complexity.
Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with silky, integrated tannins and balanced acidity. Supple, harmonious texture with a long, elegant finish that leans more refined than powerful.
Food Pairings
Roast lamb, duck breast, grilled ribeye, aged Manchego, or mushroom risotto.
Verdict
A beautifully composed Gran Reserva that blends classic Rioja maturity with freshness and finesse. Complex, layered, and quietly profound, more about harmony and nuance than sheer extraction.
Did You Know?
Gran Reserva wines represent only a small fraction of Rioja production and must undergo a minimum of 5 years of aging, including at least 2 years in oak and 2 years in bottle, resulting in their signature silky texture and developed aromatics. — 2 months ago
Mariano García’s final vintage at Vega Sicilia. What a great bottle.
The nose opens with damp forest floor, leather, cedar, and quiet red fruit; subtle, reserved, endlessly composed.
On the palate, it’s silk laid gently over structure: dried cherry, tobacco, graphite, and savory earth carried by fine-grain tannins and measured acidity.
The finish reads like the final lines of a great novel: inevitable, complete, and exactly as it should be. And already, there’s a touch of nostalgia, because I don’t know when I’ll encounter something like this again. — a month ago
C'est chaleureux mais très très harmonieux — 2 months ago
Ming L
I like to drink Rioja Reserva at 8–12 years of age, when the balance really clicks: the woody notes are fully integrated, lending gentle spice, cedar, and tobacco, while the fruit remains vibrant and expressive. The 2015 Contino Reserva shows just that sweet spot with ripe red and black cherry, dried herbs, and a touch of leather, framed by fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. It’s poised rather than powerful, with a long savory finish.
Certainly has the stuffing for another 8-10 years development. — 9 days ago