Dear Friends-
Spain's Rioja DOC and its signature wine from the Tempranillo grape may not have the difficult reputation of other varietals around the world but the fact is, since the Region was officially created in 1925, only twelve times in those 85 years has the Rioja Growers Association deemed a vintage excellent. 2004 is one of those dynamic dozen years. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator also both give the nod to 2004 as Rioja's best. Not easy getting those two to agree. We drink for our pleasure not that of the wine press but it says something when fruit-forward Parker and balanced-style Spectator concur. What it says is Awesome! That's why we prevailed on one of the brightest stars of Spain's wineries for something as special as 2004 Erudito Reserva. We have a longstanding relationship with Bodeags Olarra which has spent the last 35 years developing excellent wines. These days the results are everywhere. Most recently their 91 point 2004 Ondarre Rioja Reserva landed the number 58 ranking in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2010. Parker gave 92 points to their lesser vintage 2002 Rioja Reserva. Meanwhile flagship 2004 Mayor de Ondarre Rioja Reserva has its own 93 points from Wine Spectator. The 2004 Erudito Reserva is a cuvee sourced from the vineyards for these two outstanding wines. Old vines over fifty years of age with low yields are the source. Ageing in small French oak has the wine beginning to show its superb black cherry and cassis, lovely licorice and all-spice nicely balanced with smoky oak. There is loads of fruit concentration that bodes well for the cellar.

This is a special cuvee blend of Ondarre Rioja Reserva 2004 (91 pts, Spectator Top 100) and the 2004 Ondarre Rioja Mayor (93pts Wine Spectator). The result is a spectacular Rioja Reserva that has the balance and drinkability of the regular Reserva but with added depth and concentration from the Mayor, without the Mayor price, that is. The vintage is phenomenal, possible the best in modern times. The grapes were selected from old vines, over fifty years of age and from very low yields. The wine is aged in small French oak and is starting to show superbly. 2004 Erudito Rioja Reserva wine is full of black cherry and cassis, lovely licorice and all-spice nicely balanced with smoky oak. Lots of concentration on the palate with lovely backbone that bodes well for the cellar if you can save some of the case for later.