Sancho Garces Rioja Crianza

This is it! The very last stocks of one of the top value European wine deals of last year – and easily the best twenty bucks you’ll splash on a Spanish red this year!

If there’s one man on the planet that knows Spanish wine and Rioja (“ree-OH-hah”) it’s UK Master of Wine critic, judge and author Tim Atkin. From over 1,200 Rioja wines Atkin swirls, sips and spits to pick the best of the best in his annual Rioja Report. And the competition was tough this year with Atkin admitting “This is the most exciting and diverse line-up of wines that I’ve ever tasted from Rioja.”

So when Atkin picks this as his “Best Value Red of the Year” in his 2021 annual Rioja report the wine world sits up, takes notice and the mad scramble is on to buy up! We’re excited to have been able to land a (second) small shipment that’s arrived here into NZ.

Rioja is Spain’s most famous wine region and it’s easy to see why. Made by Bodegas Patrocinio, a small co-operative in the La Rioja Alta area. The grape is Tempranillo (“temp-rah-knee-oh”) and labelled ‘Crianza’ (“cree-an-za”) which means this one has spent 12 months in oak and 24 months in bottle before release. Crianza is well known for being the best quality-to-value ratio of all wines from Rioja and this is such a prime example.

This is a deliciously smooth, medium bodied, silky style red full of ripe dark berry flavours, sweet vanilla and a lick of spice.

While you could comfortable cellar this wine for another few years yet our recommendation is to enjoy it now (after all, the aging bit’s already been done for you!) – this is simply world class, barrel aged Rioja at a super hot price! Get into it.