Ermita de San Lorenzo Gran Selección 2020

Wonderfully mature Gran Reserva style from ancient vines in Spain's great-value Campo de BorjaFor great value, mature reds, head for Spain. This is a gorgeous mellow Gran Selección from Campo de Borja, using old-vine Garnacha, plus dense Cabernet and Tempranillo. Aged five years in oak, it's complex with soft berry spice and savoury length.As the late Spanish wine expert John Radford once wrote in Decanter, the tiny enclave of Campo de Borja is “the source of some of the best value wines from Spain, if not the world”. It remains true. Where else could you find such a mellow, complex, oak-aged red at this price? It’s made by Pamela Geddes and Raúl López at the 500-year-old Bodegas Ruberte. 60% of the wine is Garnacha from vines planted in 1958. They’re not as prolific these days, but the intensity of flavour in the grapes is impressive. The balance is Cabernet and Tempranillo, which add classic cassis and strawberry character to the spicy, raspberry-rich Garnacha. A velvet-smooth, fragrant Spanish red with vanilla hints imparted by oak. A great choice with lamb or tapas.