Bodegas Manzanos Garnacha 1890 Viñedo Singular Rioja 2021

Wait…what happened to OCTOBER?! It disappeared faster than a Chicago Bears victory in the final seconds of the fourth quarter (too soon?). Anywho…November is here, and that means Thanksgiving training starts…NOW! Wrist curls for the smoothest mashed potatoes, slowly ramping up my daily turkey intake to build up my tryptophan tolerance, and carefully sampling and selecting the wines that are going to really make my Thanksgiving feast pop, pop, POP!

And…we have a CONTENDER! 96 POINT RIOJA and priced so low, I can use fancy Kerrygold butter for all of my sides, and even for my patented “butter blanket” on the bird itself. OVER 50% OFF a perfect-drinking powerhouse Rioja made entirely from garnacha!! 40+-year-old vines, single vineyard, from the high elevation lands above the Ebro river where a cooler continental climate gives you a bright, lively, and energetic Spaniard – more akin to the elegant dare-I-say “Burgundian” style than a prototypical burly and rustic Rioja. This beauty is nearly impossible to even find in the U.S., but you just know that we know a guy, and called this in just for this time of year!!!

Imagine this…wild strawberries and pomegranates, with red apple skin, and tingly spice notes of white pepper, and rosemary. And cranberries too (just perfect for my turkey table) with this light and lingering framework of crushed granite rocks, and some light cherry and kirsch notes in the mid-palate, leading into a bright and juicy finish. This is elegance over brawn, and style over sheer power with a kick of orange zest to really heighten the finish. Not shy, but clever, and complex. A great addition to EVERY Thanksgiving table, I think, and really just a solid, delectable garnacha for all-the-time sipping. Just CRAZY-GOOD at this ridonkulous price, especially with that 96 POINT score! You can’t pass this one by… while it lasts, that is!