Berta Valganon Rioja Seleccion Natural

Berta Valganon makes tiny amounts of highly expressive, soulful, and joyous wines from her certified organic vineyards, high up in the Rioja Alta zone. Her Seleccion Natural is mainly Tempranillo with a bit of Graciano and Garnacha. Aged for 18 months in older barrels and an additional 12 months in bottle, this very much toes the line between the traditional and modern styles of Rioja.

A joyous bouquet of juicy plum, dark cherry, baking spices, anise, and earthy mineral leads into a silky and velvety palate with a long and satisfying finish. Brand new to the US, and just over 400 cases were made. Highly Recommended! 94 points -- Josh Spurling