Altos de la Guardia Crianza Rioja 2020

Rioja is Spain’s premier wine region—and this special release hails from top boutique Altos de Rioja. Founded by Château Haut Brion-trained winemaker Jean-Marc Sauboua, and led today by head winemaker Amaia Amestoy (inset), Altos is known for its quality-driven approach (and has won literally hundreds of awards to prove it).

For Altos de la Guardia Crianza, Amaia and her team sourced the grapes from an old patch of premium Tempranillo vines (planted 40+ years ago). In the cellar, she aged the wine for 14 months in fine French oak barrels. The results speak for the themselves—the wine has won multiple medals already, including a gold from a top French competition.

Crianza, by the way, is the juicy, vibrant style you’re most likely to see a local Riojan enjoying with their own dinner. Start the evening with a charcuterie plate, then try grilled lamb, roasted pork or a Spanish-inspired stew with chorizo, roasted red peppers and garlic.

Amaia prefers to make his wines in small batches—the mark of a quality-conscious winemaker. Order quickly to ensure you get to taste this special release.