2017 Bodegas Olarra Reciente Rioja Reserva 750 ml

When it comes to wine, our ACCESS means bypassing a thicket of middlemen and gatekeepers to secure hard-to-find bottles at unbelievable price points.

The 2017 Bodegas Olarra Reciente Rioja Reserva is a prime example. The fruit of the connections of our Master Somm, Sur Lucero, this stunner of a Spanish red shows the gorgeous black fruit, resinous herbs, and long, sappy tannins that you expect from excellent Rioja reservas. 

This bottle is dangerously seductive and hard to put down. Sur scored it because he’s buddies with the importer from back in his pre-Master Somm days, but even so, we had to wait over a year after our first offering of this wine—which quickly sold out—to score a second allocation. 

Now, bearing 91 points from Vinous and an excellent 4.25-star member-rating, it’s back.  

It’s not surprising to see this level of quality and value from Bodegas Olarra. For almost half a century, the winery has produced top-flight reds of impressive character, combining the region's traditional winemaking methods with state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge design.  

The 2017 Reciente Rioja Reserva, made from 90% Tempranillo plus 10% Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, was aged for 16 months in barriques followed by 20 months in bottle, allowing the wine’s aromas and flavors to integrate seamlessly.

Today, all the gorgeous spice, leather, and toasted-coconut notes of a great Rioja are deepening. The wine is drinking perfectly now, but it will stand up in the cellar for years—although chances are slim that you'll be able to keep your hands off it for anywhere close to that long. Get that pot of ropa vieja bubbling and prepare to be spoiled by this classic reserva.