Marqués de Villanueva Reserva 2012

The Cariñena region has been producing wine for 2,000 years. It may be in the shadow of the higher profile Rioja region next door but in terms of value for money it is in a class of its own. Few wines illustrate this better than Marqués de Villanueva Reserva. It is made from grapes selected from seriously old vines that have been eking out a living on the arid soils for decades. Grape quality is inversely proportional to the quantity or yield of each vine (which is meagre). After fermentation the wine rests for a year in American oak to pick up toasty vanilla and coconut notes. With a further few years in bottle it has evolved into a beautifully mellow red, delicious on its own or with chicken, cured meats or Spanish style rice dishes.