Bright and clean, cherry-red coloured with middle robe. Creamy notes of black fruit are combined with spicy aromas and slight toasting. All this wrapped by high-quality ripe tannins that display their elegant structure.

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.

Badiola is a winery in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. Founded in 2018 by acquiring an existing winery, Badiola offers village and single vineyard wines that display the freshness, elegance and depth of flavours which distinguish Rioja Alavesa. Made from high quality fruit from hilltop (Cabezadas) vineyards on limestone soils, this is an elegant, dry white wine with delicate aromas, which do not overpower food.

Zinio honours the artists responsible for their striking labels with a nod to the street art that makes the vibrant city of Logrono in the heart of Rioja so special. This brilliant fruit forward tempranillo is grown at an altitude of 550m above sea level on Clay and Limestone soils showing freshness and complexity. Grapes were destemmed and gently crushed before a 24 hour cold soak prior to fermentation in order to achieve maximum flavour extraction. The resulting wine is deep purple

Badiola is a winery in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. Founded in 2018 by acquiring an existing winery, Badiola offers village and single vineyard wines that display the freshness, elegance and depth of flavours which distinguish Rioja Alavesa. This wine is made from the highest quality, selected Viura grapes from small, old, hilltop vineyard parcels (Parcelas) on limestone soils. Subtle but intriguing on the nose and juicy and refreshing on the palate the Las Parcelas Blanco is a delightfully delicate dry white wine.

The Reserva Tempranillo blend from iconic Riojan producer, Marqués de Riscal is made from fruit sourced from outstanding vineyard sites that are in excess of 15 years of age. This fruit is able to withstand the lengthy maturation process in oak due to the fine, complex tannin and acid structure. The resulting wine is classically savoury with notes of dark berries and toasty oak. The palate is long and rounded with interesting hint of spice.

What a coup to get this wine into our range. Certainly and deservedly one of the most highly regarded Rioja producers. These are the Riojas from which dreams are made. Think leather chesterfields, smoked meats and cigar-box.