Barón de Barbón Edición del Coleccionista 2003

Rioja reaches its pinnacle of excellence with its Gran Reservas. Only crafted in the very best vintages, with the finest grapes, Gran Reservas require by law a minimum of two years’ oak ageing prior to at least three years in bottle. Javier Murúa’s Edición del Coleccionista has had much longer than that – three years in barrel and 17 years in bottle! Only miniscule amounts are made from the oldest vines in the finest vineyards for this cuvée. It’s from the Murúa’s fine family estate in the Alavesa. Ripe, complex and multi-layered, it’s a marvel of complexity. Mellow berry fruit, earthy truffle hints, toasty oak and vanilla, with a long lingering finish. It’s a dream with roast lamb or game. Also try with wild mushroom risotto.