ロペス・デ・アロ・リオハ・グラン・レセルバ

I was pleasantly surprised how smooth an 11-year-old wine this is—the dark cherry and plum notes are deep but not overpowering. It’s a steal for the price, especially considering the aging process.

That 30 months in barrel gives it a smoothness you don't find in many bottles at this price point, with dark cherry notes that linger nicely. I opened one last night and it paired beautifully with lamb chops.

Eleven years in and it's still so lively — that dark cherry and plum depth is exactly what I hoped for, and the 30 months of barrel aging shows up in a smooth, round finish. For a Gran Reserva at this price, you'd be hard-pressed to find better.