If you aren’t on our App, you may have missed this charmer of a bottle.

And, it’s exclusive to Wine Spies!

That’s right, 66% Off – dropping to under $25 - for a 93-point Rioja Reserva, only available here, for as long as our extremely limited supply lasts!

When we first tried this at HQ, we were wide-eyed and gobsmacked. The red fruits show plenty of modern polish, with traditional savory tones of wild herbs, cedar, and spices. Mellow, refined, and super-long.

Bodegas Ugalde is a legendary Rioja producer that helped put the region on the map, innovating since their founding in Haro in 1882 (akin to other greats like Muga, La Rioja Alta, C.V.N.E., and López de Heredia).

Back then, the winery and region were recognized for the quality of their wines, aided by Bordeaux winemakers that moved there during the devastation of Phylloxera back home. The family patriarch, Felipe Ugalde, was happy to exchange ideas with them – becoming part of a new era of quality and style for the region that today we consider traditional. He soon adopted a ‘Chateau’ model, inspired by the French, purchasing the estate they still farm today – about six miles outside the regions capital Logroño – the vineyard that is the source of this beauty today!

They continued as a vanguard for the region – they were among the first to focus on export markets, instrumental in the founding of the Rioja D.O.C. designation, and remain among the elite of the region.

Winemaker Esperanza Elías is well respected for her technical knowledge and ability to over-deliver on quality. Overseeing their winery since 2008, in 2023 she was named one of Drinks Business’ Top 100 Master Winemakers.

And 2018? It’s one to look for in Rioja. “Generous yields mark the 2018 vintage, which has helped the wines show classic red fruit character and fluid, supple textures. (Low yields are not necessarily a great thing when it comes to Tempranillo, especially if one prefers a style that leans more to Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo than Cabernet Sauvignon.) The fruit was clean, with good acidity and sugar levels on the low side. While I doubt that many, but the best wines will have the stuffing to age for the long haul, they should provide plenty of pleasure early on thanks to their elegance.” declare Vinous, in a recent retrospective.

With QPR like this - If you’re like us, you’ll grab a case to keep on hand for pizza night, game night, Appy Hour night, or any night that ends in ‘Y’!

But act fast – although it’s exclusive, there isn’t much to go round!

93 Points – Wine Enthusiast “Inky ruby to the eye, this wine has aromas of raspberry, milk chocolate and fennel bulb. Notes of eucalyptus and anise open on the palate and are swiftly accompanied by cherry, red currant, caramel, juniper berry and citrus zest flavors. Opulent tannins slowly build in volume and drift off into a lasting finish.”