Alma Tobia Rioja Reserva 2002

Rioja Reserve 2002, Alma Tobia, Spain

This is our “house” wine at the moment – cannot get enough of it. 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo, 14 months in new French oak. Served this with a venison and port stew with polenta dumplings. 2002 is drinking perfectly. A huge wine, big, dark, intense, sensual…nose is an explosion of inviting ripe plum and figs, cigar tobacco, vanilla, old, crinkly leather and dried herbs. Well-balanced, perfect use of oak: enough fruit to handle it all. Finish clean and long. I think I will open another now …