Rioja Vega Con Gracia Graciano 2018

This wine is 100 % Graciano, which is usually used as a blending grape in Rioja. It is inky garnet and has blackberry, black-cherry, violet and tar aromas. It is full in the mouth, with sturdy tannins and Mission fig, purple-plum, butterscotch, ground black-pepper, anisette and dark-chocolate flavors. A touch of savory dried herb notes linger on the taste buds. Editors’ Choice. Score – 95. (Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast, Dec. 31, 2023)