Conde Valdemar Rioja Gran Reserva 2015

Opened this with a friend who’s a Rioja snob, and even he was impressed by how the coffee and cocoa notes balanced the tannins. The truffle finish lingered perfectly with our aged manchego.

Drank this with lamb chops last night, and the coffee and anise notes came through beautifully. It’s got that old-school elegance that’s hard to find—wish I’d bought a case instead of two bottles.

That cocoa and truffle nose is exactly what I look for in an old-school Rioja, and it delivers from first pour to last sip. The black fruit is ripe but never jammy, and the anise keeps every glass interesting.