2011 Bodegas Olarra Otonal Gran Reserva Rioja Spain 750 ml

Finding a classically built Rioja with a decade of age is already a treat, but the 2011 Bodegas Olarra Otoñal takes our excitement to a whole new level. This is a classic bottling that harkens back to the Bordelais influence that made Rioja famous.

Crafted by traditionalists based in Logroño, in the very center of Rioja, this is a standout bottle that showcases why Gran Reserva Rioja has been a mainstay among collectors for centuries. Opening with black and red fruit accented by leather, cigar box, and spice cake, it’s aromatically intoxicating—but a taste is even better. There’s a bright, fresh quality to the fruit that plays beautifully with the savoriness of age, and ten years in the cellar has imbued the tannins with a velvety texture.

We’re always chasing that kind of experience with mature wines, but don’t often find it. Provenance is exceptionally important, and these bottles are directly from the cellars of the Bodega itself, ready to open tomorrow or spend another eight years evolving.

Age-worthiness is a trademark of Bodegas Olarra, who takes an old-school approach to winemaking. They ferment their grapes with a long maceration to develop the structure and color that will support extended aging, before letting the wine rest for a full two years in large, American oak casks.

The winery holds the bottles in its cool, dark cellars until they’re ready to drink—and now you’ve got the opportunity to experience the rich, complex fruit of their labor.