This 2019 bottling showcases why Bodegas Olarra has earned nearly 200 awards over its 50-year history—it's a masterclass in traditional Rioja know-how, with a modern polish. Decanter once called Olarra “a project that set a new benchmark in Rioja…they look to both the past and the future to produce superlative wines for the modern age.”

What sets this Gran Reserva apart is the meticulous aging regimen. It’s sourced from 30-year-old Tempranillo vines in Rioja Alta, harvested late in October 2019 to extract maximum complexity from the fruit. After extended lees contact, the wine aged 25 months in new oak barrels, then spent another 45 months in bottle before release—a total of six years from harvest to market. This extended aging program develops the layered structure and refined tannins that define serious Rioja, making it essential for collectors who understand what time does to great Tempranillo.

Bodegas Olarra itself is an architectural marvel, designed by Juan Antonio Ridruejo in 1973 as a modern interpretation of a Gothic cathedral. The winery's famous 111 hexagonal domes create perfect natural insulation over the barrel cellar, avoiding temperature fluctuations without any external climate control. It’s the perfect environment to raise and age great Rioja.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT

• An appealing nexus of score, age, and price: 95 points, 7 years old, and well below $40: at this price, it's an absolute giveaway for a category that the Riojanos consider their highest tier.
  

• Peak drinking window with years ahead: Currently showing beautifully with integrated tannins and developed tertiary notes, yet structured to evolve gracefully through 2040 and beyond—it’s a great wine for special occasions that is priced for a weeknight. Decanter loved it in their 95-point review, saying: “Oodles of super‑charged strawberry, cherry and cranberry fruit, very youthful and primary. Viscous and full with a harmonious tang of acidity and a long, generous finish. A Gran Reserva built for the long haul, yet already very beguiling on release."
  

• Classic Rioja character from a legendary producer: Bodegas Olarra has been known as “the Grand Cathedral of Rioja” for decades, and this wine exemplifies why—it's traditional Rioja at its finest, with the polish and refinement that comes from 50 years of winemaking pedigree.

HOW TO SERVE IT

• Prime drinking window: Gorgeous now through 2035+. The wine is currently at an ideal stage where primary fruit melds with its American oak upbringing: a beautiful synthesis.
  

• Serve at 58-62°F in large Bordeaux stems to appreciate the wine's aromatic complexity and silky texture. No need to decant; the wine will unfurl in the glass in 10-15 minutes.
  

• Pair with lamb tagine or ropa vieja stew.