Deep cherry red, young and vibrant with bluish tones that denote its youth. Red and black fruit in the nose with resinous notes and hints of spice. Fruity and rounded with great balance on the palate.

Some blends may not seem obvious, like Shiraz & Tempranillo - but they just work. With a mix of cherry & blueberry flavours, good oak & a savoury end these Sit Stay Society Tempranillo 375mL bottles will leave you wanting more.

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.

Tintara Tempranillo has an inviting nose of rich fruits and subtle hints of spice. A balanced harmonious palate follows, with initial primary fruit flavours of raspberry, sour cherry and plum followed by savoury and spice characteristics. This expressive medium bodied wine is complemented by a fine tannin structure and subtle texture, giving notable structure and length.

Enjoy a taste of Rioja with this vibrant Campo Viejo Tempranillo. Rich aromas of red fruit & vanilla spice continue onto the palate with a soft and fresh finish. Tempranillo pairs perfectly with your favourite pasta & poultry dishes.

Dionisio Ruiz planted his first vine in 1975. A vineyard on an old gravel pit which reproduced the natural conditions in which vines grow in La Rioja. And so began a pioneering road. Viña Ijalba, founded in 1991, elaborating quality ecological wines using traditional techniques of la Rioja, and even now, in its third generation, respecting its compromise with the environment. Viña Ijalba Tempranillo Rioja 2021 is 100% tempranillo like many of those wines that have written the history of DO Rioja. It is generous through all phases of the tasting. Violet colour, with a fresh vibrant aroma of red fruit, typical of Tempranillo. On the palate it is full-bodied, fresh and full of flavour, with a concentration of red berries. Pairs best with light meat, appetizers, rich fish and light cheese.

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.