This Silky, Delicious and Traditional Gran Reserva Rioja is $16.99!

In the far north of Spain, the country’s most famous wine region continues to produce some of the world's most delicious, distinctive and overdelivering wines. We’re talking about Rioja, of course, and today we bring you a silky Gran Reserva bottling made from 70-year-old vines for just $16.99.

This immediately-delicious red offers dark and plush fruits, oak-scented spice and clay-rock earth minerality atop a soft, full mouthfeel. Is there anywhere else on the planet where such a wine is just seventeen bucks?

Along with this charming red from Marqués del Silvo, we bring you an impressive white Rioja from the historic vineyards of the Villota family. Priced just two bucks higher than the red, this sophisticated mineral-driven white is lush and crunchy, offering an overall feel similar to premium white Bordeaux.

Scroll down for all the details, then simply click on the Big Yellow Button to place your order.

2017 Marqués del Silvo Gran Reserva
Rioja, Spain
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We’ve tasted this wine on three occasions over the past five months and, each time, we’re in love. On the nose and in the mouth, classic Rioja flavors of dark and sour red fruits are accented with hints of cocoa nibs, forest floor, dried flowers, orange peel, vanilla bean, and black tea. There is a silkiness and purity here that makes your mouth happy, and transcends expectations for the price.

The fruit, predominantly Tempranillo with a bit of Garnacha, comes from the estate's organic and sustainably-farmed bush vines, most of which are over 70 years old. Aged for 30 months in a combination of French and American oak, both new and used, it was then allowed to rest in bottle for four more years before release. All this effort for seventeen bucks? Magical!

Quite giving upon opening, the 2017 Marqués del Silvo reveals even more rich, layered flavors upon exposure to oxygen. Our most recent sample was especially yummy on day three.

We are a very solid 91 Points, and recommend that you try it with some of the same dishes we paired it with over the course of three nights - grilled New Zealand rack of lamb on day one, thin crust sausage, green pepper, and onion pizza on day two, and Greek Islands gyros leftovers on day three.

Looking online we found just two listings, both at $20. This is the magic of Rioja, the only major wine region on the planet that ages its products for you without charging extra for the gift. There is true old world goodness, refinement, purity and texture here. At today's low price, the value is bonkers!

Vin Chicago Price: 16.99

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2022 Villota "Selvanevada" Blanco
Rioja, Spain
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Villota is one of our most exciting “new” Rioja discoveries. Fourth generation owner Carmen Pérez-Garrigues honors her family’s famed terroir while embracing modern winemaking practices. The result, especially with her super delicious dry white, is a perfect combination of old world minerality and invitingly full flavors that will have you quickly going back for another sip.


“In 1973, the Villota family cofounded Viñedos del Contino, Rioja's first single estate winery with CVNE. The partnernship lasted until 2013, when the Villota family broke off, taking the historic family estate with them, and founded their own winery under the Villota brand on this historic plot of land.”

          - Jorge Ordóñez, Importer

This Rioja Blanco features the Viura grape, from a Rioja Alavesa vineyard planted back in 1975, along with small bits of white Tempranillo and Garnacha. Expressive on the nose with a range of fruits, herbs and minerals, it is quite rich on the palate, presenting a slight suggestion of new oak that is similar to what you’d experience with an expensive White Bordeaux.

Pleasurable, with ripe citrus, yellow pear, and white peach, the flavors arrive in waves, with fruit, then florals, then herbs and minerals. The finish is long and soft with a tense line of mineral lift, reminiscent of what you’d find in a top Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, or even Sancerre. Offering a hint a vanilla oak richness, there is a roundness here that makes it perfect at the table or as a cocktail hour refreshment. We are a solid 91 Points, and are a bit in awe of the uniqueness and quality feel of this wine.

Grab a few bottles to drink now and over the coming 3 to 4 years. It is very good now, and has the stuffing to get even better.

Vin Chicago Price: 18.99