Alegre Valganon Tinto 2019

With dark, brambly fruits, a hint of roasted meat and lovely herbs, it's satin-sheened and ravishingly spiced. Juniper and rosemary mix with cardamom, pomegranate and violet, a touch of leather, anise and fennel.

Since 2014, the husband-wife team of Oscar Alegre and Eva Valgañón have embraced this even more ancient tradition. By working strictly with tiny lots, they are turning out head-spinning reds and whites that capture the best of their beloved land’s 1,000+ year history. And, their wines informed by this ancestral wisdom, are offering something unique in today’s Rioja landscape.