2014 Baron de Ley Gran Reserva

Do you ever pick up a bottle of wine and wonder what the word ‘reserva’ means on the label? In most wine producing countries, reserva or reserve is put on the label by the marketing team to convey that the wine is premium. But there is no guarantee. Spain, however, is different. The Spanish have strict laws that limit the use of these words; they can only indicate how long a wine has been aged.

In Spain there are four aging categories for red wine. ‘Joven’ are the youngest bottles, followed by Crianza and ‘Reserva’. The top tier is called ‘Gran Reserva’, which can only be made in the best vintage years. Before Gran Reserva wines are released for sale, the winery must age them a minimum of five years including 18 months in small oak barrels.

The benefit to the consumer is that when Spanish wines reach our wine stores, they are ready to drink. For those who want to wait, some of the best bottles can be aged further. But in reality, most of us don’t have the patience to cellar our wines at home. Most of us buy our wines to drink the very same day.

This 2014 Baron de Ley Gran Reserva is a classic Rioja that is drinking wonderfully right now but could easily last another 10 years. On the palate it exudes savoury notes of leather and tobacco, balanced by a fresh acidity. It is the perfect gift for any wine lover on your list.