Vina Eguia Reserva – 2010
We all know that Costco blesses oenophiles with great values at any price point. While The Cheap Wino is focused on value wines at $20 and below, I’ve been to a Costco selling each of the 5 first growths from Bordeaux – Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. Amazing! But still waaaaayyyyy beyond The Cheap Wino’s budget.
For this remarkable wine, we are migrating south to Spain to Rioja, a very proud wine growing region that actually benefited greatly by the phylloxera outbreak in Bordeaux from 1875-1892. A number of vineyard growers in France ventured south to be able to continue the growth of grapes. Although they used different grape varieties better suited for the region, the processes and discipline with which they brought to the vineyards of France greatly benefitted Rioja in particular, but Ribera del Duero as well.
Enough with the history review and let’s get on to the viña.
This is the best wine you can buy under $10. $9.99 to be precise. If you find this at Costco, buy at least a whole box. (They come in wooden cases that are really cool. If you are crafty, the sky is the limit for all you can do with these wooden cases. And even if you aren’t all that crafty or handy but need furniture, these work much better than the old cardboard box you are using for a lamp stand. If none of these DIY tips apply to you, these crates at least make good firewood.)
Coming from Spain and Rioja specifically, the label of Crianza or Riserva actually have real meaning with regards to the wine’s preparation and production—it’s not just a way for the winemaker to charge more for a wine. There is certainly more time that goes into the wine and often that goes along with more tender loving care along the way.
Spanish Aging Standard Min Months in Oak Min Aging
Crianza 6 mo 24 mo
Reserva 12 mo 36 mo
Gran Reserva 18 mo 60 mo
*EU Commission Regulation (UE) No 401/2010 of 7 May 2010
These are minimums. It appears to be fairly common, particularly with Rioja wineries or Bodegas (literally translated as “store”) to apply their own twist on some of these and go above and beyond the minimum time required for the wine to age in oak and in the bottle before release to the market. There are similar requirements for white wines and rosés with these terms on the label as well.
Eguia ages this Reserva for 24 months in American and French oak barrels and they rack the wine 3 times. This means that they dump the wine from a harvest, put it in oak barrels, and they do this 2 more times over the course of 24 months before putting it all together and bottling it and then letting the wine do it’s thing in bottle for another two years.
Eguia takes grapes from 30-year old vines grown in the Rioja Alavesa vineyards where the soils are chalky and clayish/sandy. The Vina Equia winery and vineyards were established in 1973 in Elciego, which borders the Spanish “Basque” region. “Eguia” is a Basque word meaning “truth.” The winery and vineyard’s logo is an open hand above the bodega’s name superimposed on an open book – symbolic of an open hand on a Bible to swear to one’s telling the truth. Their Reserva label (loosely translated, complements of my high school Spanish) describes “truth.” “Truth is the word that defines the essence of our work, made with honesty, respect and rigor. The truth of a great wine. “
This truthfully is a GREAT wine for under $10!
Tempranillo (100%), Alcohol 13.5%
Producer: Bodegas Muriel, S.L.
Appelation: Rioja
Appearance: Beautiful garnet and full bodied.
Aroma: Light, hint of cocoa and spice and smoke. It actually smells earthy with a touch of old world minerality.
Taste: Anise (licorice) and cocoa. Good tannins and a balanced finish.
Pairing: Cured cheeses, lamb tagine, shepherds pie. Loved it with pulled pork.
One thought on “Vina Eguia Reserva – 2010”
Keep me on your list. You need to start growing your own grapes bro. “For fun and profit” Cheers!!.