D Recommends:

Vina Pomal Reserva, Tempranillo

Here is a beautiful 2015 Rioja Tempranillo from Vina Pomal Reserva, a brand from Bodegas Bilbainas in Haro, Rioja. What’s more, I featured it last December at my ‘Christmas-themed’ wine tasting experience in Gurgaon. And there is so much about this wine and wine style that one might want to discover! Like this one. It was known to be Sir Winston Churchill’s favourite Rioja, he apparently always kept a few bottles in his underground cellar!

Fun fact: Bodegas Bilbainas, which produces Vina Pomal, has the greatest area (a whopping 3400 sq meters! Woah.) of underground cellars in Rioja, built in the 19th century. One can even tour them on their trip to the vineyard.

You must be familiar with the popular Netflix series ‘Money Heist’ by now, right? Pedro Alonso, a Spanish actor who plays the well-known character of Berlin in one of the roles, is the brand’s ambassador and the face of Vina Pomal!

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What does ‘Reserva’ mean, though?

Few wine grapes are strongly associated with oak ageing as is Tempranillo. And in Rioja, ageing the wine in oak barrels is an essential part of the winemaking process. The grape has exceptional potential to age in oak for several years and deliver a velvety elegance that is incredibly resilient! It is required by law for Spanish wine labels to mention specific terms that indicate the wine’s time spent in oak barrels. Possibly the only situation in which questioning someone’s age wouldn’t be such a looked-down-upon thing now, would it? Hehe!

This is a great way for beginners to pick a bottle of Tempranillo based on the style they enjoy. The key is to look out for three of these terms – 

• Crianza: This wine spends a minimum of a year in oak and some months in the bottle. Expect an easily accessible, no-fuss, daily drinking Tempranillo style. It’s easy on the pocket and yet great to drink on any given night! Look out for those beautiful dark-fruit notes and the deep colour of the wine.
• Reserva: These are some of the best vintages that are aged for a minimum of three years, with at least a year in oak. This is the wine style we tasted, more on it below!
• Gran Reserva: You’ll pay for a premium here but receive nothing short of exceptional wine quality in return! These are incredible vintages that have spent two years in oak and three in the bottle. Only the best quality fruit make these wines. Expect a super oak-aged, elegant and well-structured style of wine, nothing short of the best.

D recommends!

The Vina Pomal Reserva Tempranillo is a classic example of the Rioja wine style. Made from 100% Tempranillo, the wine sits perfectly between a super fruity, easy-drinking Crianza, to a more oaky, mature Gran Reserva. Hence, it is a great example if you’re looking to try something punchier than a regular, younger Tempranillo style.

The high tannin, lively acidity, and long fruity flavours of the wine ensure it pairs beautifully with roasts, bakes and grills – think a lot of rich, meatiness! Also, tomato-based dishes, vegetables, pasta and gravies that are flavoured with a lot of dried herbs. This allows the wine to complement and hold up to a variety of textures and flavours in the food.

The wine is imported by leading alco-bev importers VBev India and is priced between INR 3300-3800 between major cities. Therefore, it makes for a great gifting option too, especially for winter and the holiday season!

Taste with me?