1994 Campillo Gran Reserva

The 1994 Gran Reserva is medium ruby with a classy nose of cedar and vanilla, red and black fruits. On the palate this elegant wine is complete and seamless with sweet fruit and complexity of flavor. Perhaps this should not be surprising because 1994 was an outstanding vintage in Rioja (the best before 2001) and Campillo was able to take advantage. The wine is drinking splendidly now and should easily last for another 10 years. Bodegas Campillo was built in 1990 by Julio Faustino Martinez, the owner of Bodegas Faustino, for the purpose of creating limited production, hand-crafted wines. The wines come from a 125 acre vineyard in the Laguardia region of the Rioja Alavesa. These are traditionally styled Riojas in the best sense of that word. Importer: Palm Bay Imports, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 362-9642

Dark red. Oak-tinged aromas of redcurrant, cherry, smoked meat and mocha, with a subtle floral nuance. An interesting mix of dried herb and floral accents complement rich cherry and red berry flavors, with silky tannins and suggestions of cedar, vanilla, spicecake and tobacco building on the back. Try this with a youngish Spanish cheese like Campo de Montalban.