Sip Like a Somm: 2001 Senorio de P Pecina Reserva Rioja

I feel now is the time to get into the austere yet mellow, and sometimes confused wines of Rioja. Made from a traditionally thin skinned variety known as Tempranillo, these wines stylistically can take oak for a long time, and a lot of it.

Brooding aromas of coffee and vanilla, followed by notes of stale leather and iron are married with dark red and dried black fruits. A gifted interpretation of one of my favorite Riojas comes in this week at an affordable price.