Ermita de San Lorenzo Gran Selección 2015

A Gran Selección is one of the big daddies in the Spanish reds kingdom, alongside Gran Reserva. The exact winemaking rules on who gets called what vary from region to region, but this stunner is a classic example of the intended style—smooth, round, and perfectly mature. It’s also on a roll with international acclaim, winning 90 points and multiple gold medals top competitions. (No surprise there, though—counting all the previous vintages, it’s scooped up more than a dozen golds in just a few years!)

Ermita de San Lorenzo is the pride and joy of husband-and-wife team, Miguel and Susana Ruberte, along with their head winemaker, Raúl López. It's made using gnarled, old (flavor boosting!) Garnacha and Cabernet vines, grown in the hot and arid Campo de Borja district. They age the wine deep inside ancient, hand-dug caves—this far inside the Earth, temperatures remain constant through harsh winters and blistering summers, allowing the wine to mellow and mature to its deliciously drinkable peak. Curious how their enormous oak barricas fit through the tiny doorway? Each of these massive barrels were assembled by hand inside the cave. Now that's dedication.

What to expect in the glass: mouthfuls of ripe, black fruits and layers of mellow spice. This is a limited-production red that was made for big family dinners. Pair with any kind of roasted red meat (beef, game, etc.) and enjoy.

P.S. Here's another interesting fact about Bodegas Ruberte: Susana is the second generation owner and back in 1978, her father (Andrés), was the first to bottle wines in Campo de Borja, helping establish it as an official D.O. (That stands for "Denominación de Origen," which is a regulatory classification that ensures wines are produced in a specific region, adhering to strict quality and production standards.)