Gran Reservas are some of Spain’s most special wines—made with painstaking care in only the best vintages and released years later, when they’re hitting their delicious peak. So we were over the moon when our good friend, fifth-generation winemaker Ruth Chavarri offered us a small shipment of her Pagos de Tahola Gran Reserva Rioja. Pouring beautiful roasted fruit flavors underscored by toasted accents, it cries out for a really special meal.

The Tempranillo was plucked—one delicate grape cluster at a time—from the Chavarris’ Las Cañas vineyard in premium Rioja Alavesa region, where a slightly cooler climate and high altitudes keep the fruit brisk and bright. After fermentation, the wine was aged six months in new French oak barriques then transferred to older barriques, where it spent a further 18 months. And after several years of patient bottle aging, it was released just when it was beginning to hit its stride.

Dark cherry-red in color, with faint hints of garnet, its nose delivers harmonious notes of candied red fruit and spices, underscored by earthy minerality and vanilla bean. Look for flavors of roasted strawberry, black plum and hints of mocha, on its long, elegant finish.

Only a small number of cases were imported. And considering how popular Rioja is with our customers, prompt orders are encouraged.