Palacio del Conde Gran Reserva 2011

As Robert Parker says, "Spain leads the world for sensational wine bargains of character and soul" , none more so than its mature reds. Nowhere else produces mellow, barrel aged wines of such remarkable quality and price. Take Palacio del Conde - a gorgeous, complex, oaky 2011 from Valencia. Part of this region is close to the coast, while the more southerly part is inland, up in the hills and very arid. It's there that winemaker Maria Angeles Camara selects the finest, hand harvested - from 50 year old vines - Tempranillo grapes for this Gran Reserva, then ages the wine for three years in oak barrels. A wonderfully fragrant, silky red with mature redcurrant and strawberry fruit and a rich, toasty character. Sublime with roast lamb or tapas.