Remember that white Rioja we went nuts with last week? We return to Rioja for another unfathomable bang for the buck! To celebrate ‘la ocasión’ we dug up a few more cases of the white for the day too, down in the store. And this red? It’s the best the region can do for twenty bucks and change. The 93 points don’t begin to do this delectable Rioja justice!

Dark vivid ruby to a black core with a gradient to a mildly crimson perimeter. A whiff of violets surrounds the ripe, lush cassis, and marionberry jam on the open-knit nose with spice accents. Glossy, fleshy pure Tempranillo bliss greets the first sip, with luscious plum and black tea tannin to follow. Super protracted on the finish given its affordability, rivaling many higher league collectibles from its neck of the woods. Ideally paired with the local specialty, a slow-roasted shoulder of lamb until falling off the bone with aromatic herbs.

Born in the 21st Century in the land of wineries with roots back to the 1800s, Bodegas Marqués de Terán can be considered a baby. They, however, bear tremendous respect to tradition that makes Rioja so iconic, while remaining modern in their winemaking technique. A breathtaking masterpiece of contemporary architecture, the winery sits on a hill overlooking the quaint town and vineyards of Ollauri beneath, and the Ebro Valley capped by the Sierra de Cantabria range on the horizon. Situated ideally where the cool subregion of Rioja Alta borders the even cooler Rioja Alavesa, the grapes grown here are some of the most sought after in the entire region.

The flagship Selección Especial, or “Special Selection” is at the very top of the quality pyramid, and it could be grabbed at HALF price today by the quick and nimble.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

James Suckling – 93 Points - “Dark-berry aromas with a light and bright floral edge. There’s attractive fragrance on offer here. The palate has a smooth array of rich blueberries and blackberries and spicy oak to close. Great depth and purity. Pure Tempranillo. Drink or hold.”