On Sale: $24.94 (was: $34.94)*
Ask any loyal fan of Spanish wine what they love about the top reds from Rioja, Priorat, and Ribera and they'll usually commend the the distinctive personality, serious ageability, and incredible value of these wines. Today’s flagship from Los Aljibes, the ‘Selectus’, comes from the high plateau of La Mancha, and it combines all three of those qualities for a price that you just won’t find anywhere else. Bodegas Los Aljibes is “one of the up-and-coming stars of La Mancha” (Wine Advocate), and their flagship is a singular Spanish red that blends Syrah with Bordeaux varieties, but still proudly flaunts its Spanish origins. This shows density and complexity we would expect to find in headline regions like Rioja, but it just goes to show how Los Aljibes is leading the pack in this overlooked region.
As Spain’s top wine regions have exploded in popularity in recent decades, adventurous producers have flocked to La Mancha’s untapped wealth of high elevation, old-vine vineyards, and by all accounts die-hard fans of Spanish reds are following them. Spain has always wowed us with the ability to produce affordable reds that are serious enough to age, but this 14 year old flagship ‘Selctus’ is still a shockingly good value for only $24.94. Made only in top years, this 2007 “ was worth the wait” and with 94pts from the Wine Advocate, this “suave, dense, succulent offering” shows no sign of slowing down!
94 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Bodega’s flagship is called Selectus; no 2006 was made but the 2007 Selectus was worth the wait. A blend of 30% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot, it was aged for 18 months in new French oak. Smoky oak, pencil lead, Asian spices, incense, lavender, and assorted black fruits lead to a suave, dense, succulent offering that features outstanding volume and a 45-second finish. Give it another 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it from 2014 to 2027."
*Offer publication date June 28, 2021. Pricing and availability subject to change.