2005 La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reserva - Rioja

The La Rioja Alta Viña Alberdi Reserva is, in our opinion, one of the best sub $25 bottles of wine on the planet.  The 2005 vintage is a perfect example of why it's so great.  It's classic Rioja, with savory spices to balance out the fruit and fresh acid that rinses your palate clean and leaves you wanting more.  Redcurrant, dried cherry and vanillin oak on the nose, with a smoky mineral quality in the background. Lively red fruit and rose pastille flavors are complemented by sweet vanilla bean and cola nuances. The oakiness fades away on the long finish, which is juicy, expansive and seamless. It's really great.