What a charming wine! On the nose you get blackberry and currant backed by a lightly herbal note. On the palate, the black fruit notes give way to a leathery and dark chocolate finish. There is a subtle gaminess that is so well integrated that the wine feels rustic, yet polished. If you're looking for more modern expressions of Rioja or you're looking to learn more about lesser known grapes from Spain, this is a great place to start. 

My goth past has come back to haunt me. This is winsome nostalgia in a glass. The 2023 Berta Valgañón “Selección Maturana Tinta” Rioja is dark, inky, and hypnotic, with intriguing notes of cassis, smoldering clove cigarette, glossy black lipstick, Choward’s violet candies, incense, and leather, all wrapped in a plush, velvety mouthfeel. It’s lights-out lovely and highly recommended. Made from Maturana Tinta with a splash of Garnacha by a one-woman winery with an annual output of a mere 1,500 cases. Pay attention as Berta Valgañón is one to watch!

Yet another grape that I don't think I've had before. Maturana Tinta is the name, and being floral and juicy is its game, apparently, and I am definitely not mad about this. This is great, Rachael Ryan (Master of Wine candidate) compared this varietal to Mourvedre and I dig that comparison. There's just so much raspberry and violets with something a little more rich and buried deep in the background, a kind of plum skin, black cherry, and this dense earthiness. I love this nose and want it made into a candle. The palate is more dense and dark than I expected, but I'm not mad about it. There's an almost chewy aspect to the fruit and tannin, lots of dark black fruit and a little bit of more florals coming across on the palate. This is really fun, and definitely something to be had with a meal, but I could actually see having this with a nice fat potato and a good piece of meat or whatever protein you prefer. Very fun.