2018 Viña Real Gran Reserva, CVNE, Rioja
A Selección Especial Gran Reserva, reserved for only the finest vintages
Why We Recommend It
- Selección Especial
A distinction Viña Real reserves only for wines from the finest vintages. - Jonathan Ray's Tasting Favourite
Unanimously picked as the favourite by Jonathan Ray and his fellow tasters.
Jonathan Ray's Verdict
"Unsurprisingly, the 2018 CVNE Viña Real Gran Reserva Selección Especial was everyone’s favourite. ‘This is what Rioja is all about!’ exclaimed Mrs R., beaming. Felicity just sighed happily and gulped noisily. A 95 per cent Tempranillo/5 per cent Graciano blend from the finest plots, aged for two years in barrel and three in bottle, it’s soft, smooth and mellow with sweet, ripe plums and prunes, leather, tobacco and the gentlest of tannins. Its ‘Especial’ moniker is only ever accorded in the finest of vintages, of which this is clearly one."
- Jonathan Ray, The Spectator Magazine (tasted August 2026)
Rioja Reserved for the Finest Vintages
The Selección Especial name isn't used lightly. It is reserved for Viña Real wines from the finest vintages, and the 2018 was unanimously picked as the favourite by Jonathan Ray and his fellow tasters.
Made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano sourced from the finest plots, it spends two years in barrel followed by three years in bottle. The result is a Gran Reserva with all the maturity you'd hope for, yet with a softness and elegance that makes it wonderfully approachable now.