Articles and Reviews

Finest Viña del Cura Rioja Gran Reserva 2012

Posted by: Andy Kelly

Date: 26-09-2019

It’s not cheapest wine we’ve ever bought from a supermarket but it might just be one of the best. at £11.50 it is easily worth double what we paid for it. Excellent value for a fantastic wine.

What Ned said:

"Gran Reserva Riojas have to be aged two years in cask then three in bottle before release and this one amply demonstrates the benefits. Deep ruby colour going gently orange at the rim, the nose is sweetly, tantalisingly ripe and the fruit near-chocolatey in its cassis intensity; the vanilla richness is in fine harmony; 14% alcohol. Best value Gran Reserva of the day".

Yes to everything Ned said! What a Rioja this is. We couldn’t get the 2011 vintage so we settled for the 2012 at £11.50. At the time the book was published, the 2011 vintage would have set you back £11.

The vanilla hits you as you put your nose in the glass and it made me want to taste it immediately. Dark fruits on the palate with hints of chocolate and a lovely smooth, creamy, vanilla finish. Bravo to Tesco for forging a partnership with Baron de Ley because this is serious wine.

It’s not cheapest wine we’ve ever bought from a supermarket but it might just be one of the best. at £11.50 it is easily worth double what we paid for it. Excellent value for a fantastic wine.

It’s a 10 from us too!