Bodegas Benito Urbina Rioja Gran Reserva Especial 2004

Rioja, Spain

Four generations of winemaking, the Urbina family really know what they’re doing.  This 2004 vintage has soft edges and all those lovely leathery, dark earthy flavours which come with a perfectly developed old Rioja.  Produced as a Gran Reserva – meaning it has spent 24 months in oak barrels – you can taste the mellowed vanilla oak, perfectly in tune with the other delicious flavours exploding gently on your tongue.  This is worth scouring your cook books for a dish with which to really do this wine justice.