I picked this up on a whim mainly because it was on offer and I’m glad I did. Initially, I was slightly concerned because the cashier hit the bottle extremely hard to remove the security tag, seriously damaging the foil. However, my worries went away once I tasted it.
This 2014 Rioja, with an ABV of 14%, includes a touch of Graciano added to the Tempranillo, enhancing its complexity. It has the typical Rioja nose but with a pleasant, slightly more, woody character. The dark fruit and plums come through beautifully, complemented by subtle notes of tobacco. Unlike many low end Riojas that suffer from a cold finish due to poorer acidity/alcohol balance, this one impresses with a warm aftertaste, proving it’s very well balanced. It paired extremely well with beef steak I had at the same time and even better than a Cabernet I also had open.
This wine is white-labelled for Morrisons under the name Marques de los Rios, which obscures the actual producer. The cork and small writing on the back label reveal the true origin, Lopez de Haro. After further research, I discovered this wine won a Silver IWC award and had an impressive 93 points. Comparable Gran Reserva wines by Lopez de Haro sell for twice the non-offer price, making this a hidden gem and a real bargain.
You can find this Rioja at Morrisons, with a black label, not the Crianza white label. It’s priced at between £12 and £14 but I purchased for £9 during a 25% off promotion.
