Enjoy a silky Rioja Crianza with five years’ age, from the premium Alta region. In the most northwesterly corner of Rioja, the flatter land starts rising up into soaring mountains. It's here you'll find the start of the Rioja Alta vineyards – a fine enclave of Spain’s most famous red wine region . The extra altitude freshens as well as ripens grapes slowly to full flavoured perfection. Since most Riojas blend grapes from across the region, and the most famous bodegas like to blend Alta grapes into their finest wines, you almost never see Rioja Alta on labels. In fact, there are only two villages permitted to add it. In one you'll find Juan Antonio Leza’s family winery, the cellar behind Castillo de Epifanía Crianza Every grape comes from their sleepy Rioja Alta village. This is Juan’s first Castillo de Epifanía Crianza – made from high-grown handpicked Tempranillo grapes grown in Alta’s cool Najerilla Valley. Aged in French and American oak barriques for a full 12 months, and with five years of maturity, the superb 2021 vintage is drinking beautifully. With a perfect balance of red berry fruit, spice, subtle vanilla oak and a delightful juicy freshness, this is lovely on its own and delicious with grilled meats or tasty tapas.

Medium-bodied with seductive flavours of blueberries, cherries and dark plums. The French oak maturation provides subtle savoury, spice characters with a pleasing soft and silky texture to the mid palate. A long, persistent finish makes this a great wine for Spanish or games dishes.

Vintage after vintage, Barón de Barbón proves to be our bestselling Rioja. It’s a lot to do with the wine’s enticing berry aromas, silky texture and luscious flavour. The talent behind this contemporary, fruit driven red is the young and infectiously keen Javier Murúa. His father Julián owns Bodegas Muriel (a winery Julián’s parents established in 1926) in Rioja’s superior Alavesa. We have a fabulous working relationship with the family, ensuring our Buyer Beth goes in straight after vintage and gets first refusal on the finest vats. With its easy going, ripe red berry flavours and fragrant vanilla character, this supple Rioja is great to drink on its own or with simple suppers such as lamb chops, char-grilled vegetable kebabs or chicken.

As Robert Parker says, “Spain leads the world for sensational wine bargains of character and soul”, none more so than its mature reds. Nowhere else produces mellow, barrel-aged wines of such remarkable quality and price. Take Palacio del Conde – a gorgeously complex, oaky 2015 from Valencia. Part of this region is close to the coast, while the more southerly part is inland, up in the hills, and dry. It’s there that winemaker Marta Martínez selects the finest, hand harvested – from 50 year old vines – Tempranillo grapes for this Gran Reserva, then ages the wine for three years in oak barrels. A wonderfully fragrant, silky red with mature redcurrant and strawberry fruit and a rich, toasty character. Sublime with roast lamb or tapas. Its three recent Gold wins show its drinking beautifully now.

The 2022 Capa Tempranillo from Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, is a true delight for the senses. Upon pouring, the wine reveals a deep ruby red colour with purple undertones, hinting at its youthful vibrancy. The nose is immediately greeted with intense aromas of ripe blackberries, cherries, and plums, accompanied by subtle hints of vanilla and spice from its time spent in oak barrels. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with a velvety texture and well-integrated tannins. Flavours of dark fruits, such as blackcurrants and figs, dance on the tongue, complemented by notes of tobacco and a touch of balsamic. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving a lingering impression of its impeccable balance and complexity. This 2022 Capa Tempranillo showcases the best of the region and is a true testament to the expertise of its Spanish producers.