Is Gran Reserva worth the price?

I went to my local supermarket, and looked for a bottle that looked good and was easy to find for you guys abroad. After checking a few in the store and not being able to find them online in the US, I finally bumped into Barón de Ley. I checked it online and found it was available at wine.com, although for twice the price I paid in Spain: it costed me 20€, and it was selling for around $40 online in the US. As soon as I opened it, I smelled the cork and noticed a distinct woody aroma. It made me expect something robust and traditional, maybe something bold and dry. But the surprise came with the first sip. The wine is softer than expected, especially when compared to other Riojas like Marqués de Riscal. It’s smoother, more fruity, and less oaky than I imagined. If I had to summarize it in one word: approachable. It’s polished, elegant, and not trying too hard.

Rioja Gran Reserva, from the Rioja region in northern Spain, generally bypasses that issue. Some of them, depending on the kind of barrels they've been aged in and the nature of the vintage and the blend, still need a few more years to absorb their oak; others are raring to go as soon as you pop the cork. The majority of Rioja tends to be a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, with Graciano, Mazuelo, and Maturana Tinta also permitted. Exceptions, however, are increasingly available. The case can be made that Rioja Gran Reserva is one of the most underrated wines on the planet, and for the money, easily one of the best deals. Excellent Rioja Gran Reserva, on the other hand, can be found for $30 or less. If you want to spend more, keep an eye out for the Gran Reservas of R. López de Heredia, Marqués de Riscal, and Bodegas Muga, which are reliably delicious, too. Rioja Gran Reserva often acts like some sort of vinous crystal ball, offering a glimpse of what the future of the wine will hold, and usually without the necessity of aging it for any longer than the trip between the wine shop and the kitchen table. Much of this has to do with the production regulations that producers of red Rioja Gran Reserva have to follow. The terroir in which the grapes were grown is, as always, a key consideration as well.