Today’s 95 point (Decanter Magazine) Navarrsotillo 2010 “Magister Bibendi” Reserve Rioja DOC Graciano took our entire tasting panel by storm! Every member of the panel was transfixed by this sultry, delicious wine. This 2010 is perfectly aged and drinking beautifully. This wine is limited, our we’d be stuffing our cellars full!

Navarrsotillo winery, in Rioja, Spain farms nearly 175 acres of pristine, organic vineyards. Their organic wines are heralded around the world and we were lucky enough to get our hands on the very last cases of today’s delicious Reserve Rioja. This wine is juicy and fruit driven on the palate, with a distinct, aromatic nose with hints of savory mesquite and spice.

Winemaking brothers Andrés and Ramón Serrano Arriezu hail from a long line of winemakers. The brothers themselves have been making wines for decades. The Graciano in today’s wine comes from vines that are over 20 years old.

This Graciano from Rioja is a distinctive mauve coloring with a lighter magenta around the lip. The nose is deeply alluring and hooks you instantly with varied aromas of potting soil, rhubarb, hickory, baking spice, cherry, and a delightful hint of mesquite smoke. On the palate, it really takes you by surprise, with luscious fruit tones of maraschino cherry, strawberry framboise with floral notes of hibiscus and lilac. It has a rustic farm characteristic that keeps you intrigued. The mouthfeel is what really makes this wine interesting. It’s lighter-bodied, but with incredible concentration of flavor on the tip of the tongue, with nice alcohol that sends it upwards towards the finish. Wow! This calls for something a little different like a slow-simmered pork stew with plenty of chipotle in an adobo sauce.

About Graciano:

Graciano is a Spanish red wine grape that is grown primarily in Rioja. Graciano vines produce low yields that are normally harvested in late October. The wine is characterized by its deep red color, strong aroma and ability to age well. Graciano thrives in warm, arid climates.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

95 Points - “With a vegetal character to the nose, on the palate it is lovely; fresh, tannic and serious, it is made for the long run. A very different style that is persistent and will not please everybody, but it is definitely worth praise.” - Decanter