Upon much deliberation, our overall masked winner revealed a style and character that provided us with a fairly clear cut insight into the modern day advances of a region etched in history and tradition. Cosme Palacio consistently produces one of our favourite Riojas that always offers incredible value for money. Produced predominantly from Tempranillo grown in cool, relatively high altitude sites, this is modern Rioja that's bright and ready to go thanks to a touch of bottle age. It's medium bodied with fine tannins and juicy in the mouth. Black fruits dominate the flavour profile with some delicate cedar and earthy notes adding complexity to a delicious example from this much loved region.

Stephen Pannell continues to excel with his amazing array of intriguing varietals and blends, capturing significant attention amongst critics and consumers alike. He is without a doubt a name to keep an eye on! Leap into something a little different and unique here, with a blend that manages to capture the essence of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain. Bright and juicy with medium weight, a highly perfumed spectrum of plum and dark berry fruits meet exotic spice and scented florals. There's even a slight meaty character adding to the complexity and gentle savoury tannins round out the package. In a word, delicious! 'The cool, wet summer of 2010-11 has imparted peppery and vegetal aromas, while the palate is medium-bodied and slightly edgy, with some leanness and not a lot of flesh. Smooth, appealing current drinking. A nice take on Portuguese - style reds. Ready to drink now to 2020.' - 90/100. - Sydney Morning Herald, 04 Jun 2013, by Huon Hooke.

Medium bodied wine with raspberry fruits, cherries and chalky tannins on the finish.

Sancho Garces pays homage to King Sancho Garcés III el Mayor, king of the Kingdom of Pamplona between 1004 and 1035, who promoted the pilgrimage route of the Camino of Santiago, or Way of St. James, and built hospitals and lodging. Sancho Garces presents aromas of fresh fruit and liquorice. Soft tannins, very well-balanced and easy-drinking.

Very intensive red, clean and brilliant. The nose is deep and fruit, with notes of wild blackberries and soft oak wood toasty. The palate is elegant, fleshy and wide. Very aromatic, rich in nuances and a long finish in the mouth resulting from the malolactic fermentation in barrel.

Sourced from a 9 hectare single vineyard planted in 1950 called Canajas, located at 465m above sea level. Stylistically, Dalmau is the most modern of the red wines from Marques de Murrieta and is named after owner Vincente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga. The 2019 vintage has received 97 points from James Suckling, Tim Atkin, and 98 points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. 86% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Graciano, with 20 months in French oak and 6 months in concrete vats prior to bottling. Intensely scented nose with hints of blueberries, red plum, thyme, cedar and black pepper. Splendid palate, wide and well-defined with a long juicy finish. A seductive blend of strength and finesse. “The clearest expression of Canajas single-vineyard nature; a Dalmau with strong character, more concentrated and expressive compared to its predecessors.” - María Vargas, Technical Director.

A wine that highlights the bold yet elegant nature of Rioja Tempranillo, Conde de Tresaguas was recently awarded the Gold Medal at the Gilber & Gaillard International Competition. Aromas of ripe blackberries and dark cherries, along with notes of fresh tobacco, vanilla, and cedary oak. With a velvety mouthfeel framing lavours of juicy plum, blackcurrant, and a touch of mocha, this is a fruit-filled, balanced Rioja with a long and satisfying after-taste, offering outstanding value.

The Navarra region is located in the north of Spain, at the Western end of the Pyrenees. This particular wine comes from the Ribera Baja subzone at the southern end of Navarra and is a bright and expressive example of Spanish Tempranillo, full of red fruit and elegant, spicy notes and a rich, plush mouthfeel from a smidge of Merlot in the blend. Outstanding value.

8000 Marqués de Burgos is a very elegant wine with a unique personality and great ageing potential. Located in the oldest vineyard area in the D.O., with an altitude of 700—900m. Two parcels with one hundred-year-old vines that are worked by hand and with very low yields: Olmedillo 2.7 ha (2.100 kg-ha) and Santa Ana 0.7 ha (1.700 kg-ha). Slow malolactic fermentation in new barrels of extra fine-grained French oak from the Tronçais and Jupille forests, with continuous lees stirring. 16 months’ ageing in French oak barrels, followed by 12 months’ ageing in bottle. Tasting notes: - Colour: Dark, garnet-cherry color. - Nose: Aromas of black fruit, blackberries, violet sweets balanced with spiced toasted notes that appear through barrel ageing. - Palate: Balanced entry, enveloping, with marked tannins that give great body on the palate and an aftertaste of floral notes such as violets, cocoa, and toffee. Long and persistent finish. - Pairings: Perfect for pairing with suckling lamb or slow-cooked game meat such as venison. Limited edition of 8,090 bottles.