Bordon Reserva: Textbook Rioja at a Can’t-Miss Price
This is textbook Rioja—aged, balanced, elegant—and it’s priced like it missed inflation. As the current release of 2018, this Bodega follows the old Rioja tradition of extended bottle ageing and only releasing when the juice is ready to drink. I love that about Rioja, personally. There is a level of nuance and complexity from a few extra years in bottle that just cannot be beaten in my opinion.
Founded in 1890, Bodegas Franco Españolas is one of the oldest wineries in Rioja, established at a time when Bordeaux winemakers were fleeing phylloxera and bringing their know-how to Spain. That legacy of blending French finesse with Spanish soul lives on in their Reserva wines, which offer a style that’s very traditional.
The 2018 vintage is a perfect snapshot of what Rioja does best. Made mostly from Tempranillo, with a splash of Graciano and Mazuelo, it was aged for 18 months in American oak and then many years in bottle before release. What you get in the glass is savory, complex, and silky: dried cherry, cedar, tobacco leaf, and a whisper of warm spice. The texture is polished but still full of energy—proof that this wine has hit its sweet spot of maturity. It is really in a good place right now.
Enjoy the bargain, and it is the perfect time of year for this. BBQ grilling and earthy Rioja are a match made in heaven! I’ll keep an eye out for more inflation busters like this.
90 Points, James Suckling
Spiced cherries, berries and touches of bark and dried mushrooms on the nose. Juicy and medium-bodied on the palate, with firm tannins and a fluid, medium-long finish.
Regular Price: $23.99
NET Price: $17.98