Bodega 202 Aistear Rioja 2016

RIOJA!

The EPIC 2016 vintage, 93 POINTS, OVER 60% OFF – for the glimmering jewel of Spanish wines…say it with me…Rioja!!! All at an absolutely soup-sandwich-crazy price, too!!! That’s how we do – Last Bottle style!!!

Crazy depth and a distinct mineral finish of strength and unbridled power… this is Rioja ready to rock! The cherries! Those sexy, come-hither floral notes! Drink this out of a salad bowl – ‘cause you’re gonna wanna fit your whole head in there! Dang! Bodega 202 has a pretty simple philosophy when it comes to crafting world-class Rioja – Old Vines and Altitude. That ethos has served them quite well, with Tim Atkin proclaiming, “Bodega 202 is one of the most conspicuous Rioja success stories of the last decade.”

These folks know a thing or two about chasing the sun… they traversed the top of the peaks, to find the best and oldest vines throughout Rioja – often up past 600 meters, with the majority of their vines 80-100 years old! All to make the highest-toned, most elegant, and alluring Rioja possible. This is a sexy, modern, and intensely fresh style of Rioja belting out with ripe cherries, black plums, candied violets, Tahitian vanilla, tobacco, cedar, green peppercorns, and more! Wait until you see the price! UNDER $25?! Surely, it can’t be, right? Sounds like a $70 bottle at LEAST! But this is the Last Bottle universe, where we turn numbers like that upside down!! Rich, complex, taut, and powerful Rioja that is simply…AMAZING!!!

We mentioned 93 POINTS, right? We don’t get a lot of Rioja in general, but this one stopped us in our tracks, and we HAD to have it. Founders Francis and Kathleen Rooney (he’s a former U.S. Representative to the Vatican) came across these vineyards on a little sojourn from their pilgrimage along the historic Camino de Santiago. They immediately fell head over heels for the land, the people, and that unbelievably appealing Spanish way of life (Siestas! Tapas! Fireworks! OLE!!). They purchased their favorite vineyard, brought on a local Spanish partner and winemaker in Luis Güemes, and Bodega 202 was off! Now managed by the second generation, the property continues to produce small-lot wines that are simply breathtaking. 100% tempranillo, 100% new oak (75% French, 25% American) for 14 months…this is 100% the best Rioja deal out there!

You are not ready...TWENTY TWO DOLLARS…WOW!! While it lasts friends!!