Top 10 Rioja recommendations

Panel Tasters:Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW  Ben Henshaw  Annette Scarfe MW

Pedro Ballesteros MW: Deliciously decadent, with extraordinary vitality in the palate and a long, unique finish. A jewel at this price. Ben Henshaw: Complex nose, quite grippy but fresh and moreish. A touch dry, but amazing fruit. Classy, complex and long.
Annette Scarfe MW: A more restrained, mineral style with elegant tannins. Youthful, feminine and complex with a long length. A classic Rioja that is still fresh after 12 years, with more to come.

Outstanding
19.25/20(97/100)

PB 20 BH 18.5 AS 19

Alcohol: 13.5% Drink: 2013-2030
www.bodegasfaustino.com/en/Distributors in Mainland China: Ningbo Da Ao Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd. (宁波达澳进出口有限公司); Jebsen Fine Wines (捷成洋酒)
Price Range: CNY450-500

PBT: A great wine. An archetype of what makes Rioja unique: harmonious US oak, stylish oxidative development, fresh balance and a long finish.
BH: Instantly attractive. Smooth, rich and approachable. Very classy.
AS: Traditional savoury style. Typical Rioja with elegance and class. Great length and delicious. Multi-dimensional and complex.

Ourstanding
18.75/20(95/100)

PB 19 BH 18.5 AS 18.5

Alcohol: 13% Drink: 2013-2040
www.riojalta.com/en/Distributors in Mainland China: Aussino World Wines (富隆酒业)
Price Range: CNY400-480

Lovely rich nose of mountain herbs and exotic spices. Prominent oak but sufficient fruit to support, with Juicy tannins, lovely balance and a long, open finish. Attractive and complex.

Highly Recommended
18/20(93/100)

PB 18 BH 18 AS 18

Alcohol: 14% Drink: 2013-2023
www.grupobodegasolarra.comDistributors in Mainland China: Amazon.cn (亚马逊中国)
Price Range: CNY650-700

Sweet vanilla oak with juicy ripe plums, leather and spice. Concentrated and long with touches of animal notes and old furniture, and fine-grained tannins. Restrained, elegant, complex and harmonious.

Highly Recommended
17.75/20(92/100)

PB 18 BH 18 AS 17

Alcohol: 13.5% Drink: 2013-2025
www.bodegasaltanza.comDistributors in Mainland China: Pukang Wine Industry (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (葡康酒业上海有限公司)
Price Range: n/a

Toasty aromas are repeated on the palate alongside delicious soft and ripe strawberry fruit. Delicate tanins, refreshing acidity. Warm and powerful like a Châteauneuf-du-Pape but with a leaner finish.

Highly Recommended
17.75/20(92/100)

PB 18 BH 17.5 AS 18

Alcohol: 13% Drink: 2013-2018
www.ontanon.es/english/Distributors in Mainland China: Amazon.cn (亚马逊中国,铭典酒业供货)
Price Range: CNY220-300

Textbook Reserva. Mocha and coffee beans on the nose. Concentrated stewed fruit with delicate spices. Savoury, juicy, developed, and round with a long finish.

Highly Recommended
17.5/20(91/100)

PB 18 BH 18 AS 16.5

Alcohol: 13.5% Drink: 2013-2025
www.bodegasmuga.comDistributors in Mainland China:Beijing Minghuachunrui International Business Co., Ltd. (北京铭华春瑞国际贸易有限公司); Bordeaux Index (波尔多指数香港有限公司)
Price Range: CNY460-550 / HKD110-200

Smoky, coffee beans with violets and roses - a mineral, aromatic style. Firm but ripe tannins. Deep and dense, very spicy, with a lovely rustic touch and an impressively long finish. A rich, serious style.

Highly Recommended
17.5/20(91/100)

PB 18 BH 17 AS 17.5

Alcohol: 14.5% Drink: 2013-2030
www.luiscanas.com/en/Distributors in Mainland China: AWA Shanghai Trading Co., Ltd. (上海安吾安贸易有限公司)
Price Range: CNY730-770

Restrained nose with sweet-and-sour soy sauce notes and delicate currant fruit. Restrained in attack, opens up in a most classic expression. Palate lively with plenty of tannin and acidity driving through to a red-fruited, mineral finish.

Highly Recommended
17.5/20(91/100)

PB 18 BH 17 AS 17.5

Alcohol: 13.5% Drink: 2013-2025
www.cvne.comDistributors in Mainland China: YesMyWine.com (也买酒)
Price Range: CNY450-360

Soft cherry fruit, lovely freshness and balance in the mouth. Elegant mineral style with restrained fruit and herbal touches with tomato leaf notes; attractive and juicy.

Highly Recommended
17.25/20(90/100)

PB 16 BH 18 AS 17.5

Alcohol: 13.5% Drink: 2013-2018
www.bodegascampillo.comDistributors in Mainland China: cmbuy.cn (中国移动网购平台); 100wine.com (逸香商城/百大佳酿); Amazon.cn (亚马逊中国); 1mall.com (1号商城)
Price Range: CNY390-590

Lovely aromas of fresh herbs, spice and red cherries. Baked black and red plums with spicy oak; has class and a long, fresh, open, herbal finish.

Highly Recommended
17/20(90/100)

PB 17 BH 17 AS 17

Alcohol: 13.5% Drink: 2013-2018
www.cvne.comDistributors in Mainland China: Aussino World Wines (富隆酒业); JiuQ.com (酒圈网); JiuMei.com (酒美网); Tmall.com (天猫)
Price Range: CNY230-290