Lopez de Heredia 'Vina Tondonia' Rioja Reserva 2012 MAGNUMVarietal: Tempranillo

He is very fortunate to own two vineyards in the Rhône Valley just opposite the storied hills of Hermitage in Saint Joseph

a half an hour drive from the Agly Valley

high in acid and extremely refreshing

Defying conventional wisdom of the 1980s

dotted with olive groves and scenic views—an idyllic spot

The Pessimist is a blend of Syrah

blackberry and black cherry

storied wines from Marqués de Tomares are the perfect expressions of traditional Rioja that is still fresh

María’s father used to have a winery in the area and her brother farms the family’s vines

Varietal:  Riesling

and execution

silky smooth tannins