Rioja Through the Decades Gift Box

Give your loved Rioja-lover this exclusive gift set and you give something to be truly cherished: a fascinating, three-bottle illustration of how the wines of this most revered Spanish tradition develop in complexity over as many decades. It's an illustration that is as intriguing as it is delicious, comprising three unmissable opportunities for afficionado and budding connoisseur alike to take that leg of lamb, roast of beef or pork to new heights. Three that come in a traditionally styled, wooden Mr.Wheeler gift box.

1994 Coto de Imaz, Reserva, Rioja
Twenty-eight years on, doing what mature Tempranillo ought: meaty, pruny, savoury pepper-spice notes on the nose, still with subtle hints of black fruit; on the palate sweet red/dark, peppery fruit driven by an impressively juicy acidity and very gentle grippiness. Lingering sultanas, fig and red fruit on an equally impressive, very clean finish. It will be easy to drink a great deal of this wine. We were little surprised to note the Rioja DOC regulatory board officially rating the 1994 vintage Excellent. It was, and its here.

2006 Rioja Gran Reserva, Bodegas Urbina
This Gran Reserva comes from Bodegas Urbina's best grapes. From vines with a minimum age of 20 years. Great depth and intensity due to being matured in oak barrels for two years and then for a further four years in bottle.

2016 Reserva Viña Ardanza, La Rioja Alta
Medium-intensity, dark cherry-red; clean and bright. To the nose it stands out for its fresh, spicy character, with hints of sweet cherries and blackcurrant chocolate, assembled with notes of black pepper, tobacco, nutmeg, coffee, mocha and cinnamon.