Viña Bujanda Reserva Rioja 2018

What a treat to discover a tiny parcel of mature Rioja Reserva, and from a top estate too. Well, we have been friends with the family since they completed their state-of-the-art winery in 1984, and were the first to export their wines to the UK. Four decades on, the cellar remains one of the finest in Europe and has collected a huge number of awards. This dark, smoky Reserva is from their Finca Valpiedra estate, where the impressive Lauren Rosillo is winemaker. All estate-grown Tempranillo, aged in barrel in their cellars for 24 months before long resting in bottle, it's elegant with complex notes of tobacco, blackberry, sticky plum and cedar. A joy with slow-cooked lamb shanks, roast meats or a paprika-laced squash and bean casserole.