Rioja never ceases to surprise me with its fortune of underrated wine gems. A new find, Viña Marro is a product of the family-owned winery Domeco de Jarauta, a large estate covering more than 100 hectares, farmed mostly organically. The style of the Vendimia Seleccionada bottling is one that I love — not modern, but hardly rustic. The richness of red fruits coats the palate, with gestures of fall spice like clove, vanilla, and star anise. The structure is a little bigger than medium (but not big), and the nice combination of American, French, & Hungarian oak carries the wine into a velvet glove finish. Drink with lean meats, roasted vegetables, and anything with bacon, and grab a few extra bottles... because there’s never a bad time for Rioja. ~Allegra A