24 great-value Riojas between £8-£20

Faustino Faustino I Gran Reserva 2001 Valenciso Reserva 2006. Valenciso, Reserva 2006 Decanter average score: 19pts/20 (96/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 19 Ben Henshaw 19 Annette Scarfe MW 19 Valenciso (founded 1998) may be young in years, but founders Luis Valentin and Carmen Enciso (who gave their surnames to the bodega) were already long in experience when they began. They had worked together for 28 years by the time they left Bodegas Palacio to start their own business. This Valenciso Reserva, a 100% Tempranillo, is the only red they produce annually, from vineyards in Rioja Alta (though there is now also a small production of white). Fermentation is in concrete tanks, and ageing is in French oak. Despite the use of French oak they are keen to stress that they are not part of the new wave of modern Rioja â they look for fruit but not over-extraction. Pedro Ballesteros MW Excellent. A unique expression from Rioja with balanced tannins, minerality and a spicy finish. Ben Henshaw Classically styled. Very driven palate with sweet red fruits and prominent acidity. A lively wine with a very long finish. Annette Scarfe MW Traditional, classical style with fresh acidity and ripe but structured tannins. Black coffee and sweet spice. Precise and long finish. Delicious, complex and multi-layered. Price Â£18âÂ£20 All About Wine, D Byrne & Co, Define Food & Wine, Highbury Vintners, John Hattersley Wines, Swig, Woodwinters Drink 2013â2025 Alc 14% Bodegas Muriel Reserva 2008 La Rioja Alta ViÃ±a Arana Reserva 2005 Ondarre Reserva 2008 Ondarre, Reserva 2008 Decanter average score: 18pts/20 (93/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 18 Annette Scarfe MW 18 Lovely rich nose of mountain herbs and exotic spices. Prominent oak but sufficient fruit to support, with juicy tannins, lovely balance and a long, open finish. Attractive and complex. Price Â£10âÂ£15 Bedales, Good Wine Shop, Hailsham, Hallgarten Druitt, Hanslope Wines, Nickolls & Perks, Sheridan Coopers, Swig Drink 2013â2023 Alc 14% Bodegas Altanza Lealtanza Limited Edition Reserva 2008 Bodegas Altanza, Lealtanza Limited Edition, Reserva 2008 Decanter average score: 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 18 Annette Scarfe MW 17 Sweet vanilla oak with juicy ripe plums, leather and spice. Concentrated and long with touches of animal notes and old furniture, and finegrained tannins. Restrained, elegant, complex and harmonious. Price Â£13.95 Bancroft, Dorset Wine Co, Stone Vine & Sun, The Wine Library, Village Wines Drink 2013â2025 Alc 13.5% Covila Gran Reserva 2004 Covila, Gran Reserva 2004 Decanter average score: 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 17 Ben Henshaw 17.5 Annette Scarfe MW 18.5 Attractive, juicy acidity with sweet and sour notes. Beautiful aromas of soft ripe cherry, vanilla cream and buttered toast. Nice expression and great persistence. Still youthful and attractive with juicy redcurrants, blueberries and smooth spice. Price Â£17âÂ£18.50 Arkells, Castang, Celos, Harveys of Lewes, Wine in Cornwall, Wine Raks Drink 2013â2028 Alc 14% Finca Allende 2007 Finca Allende 2007 Decanter average score : 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 17 Ben Henshaw 18 Annette Scarfe MW 18 Toasted coffee beans with attractive balsamic notes and aromas of mint, blackcurrant and meat juices. Heady and ambitious but elegantly structured in the mouth with fresh acidity and a pure, focused finish. Price Â£17âÂ£19 AG Wines, Berry Bros & Rudd, Bottle Apostle, Carruthers & Kent, Corks of Cotham, Fine & Rare, Secret Cellar Drink 2013â2020 Alc 13.5% OntaÃ±Ã³n Gran Reserva 2001 OntaÃ±Ã³n, Gran Reserva 2001 Decanter average score: 17.75pts/20 (92/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 17.5 Annette Scarfe MW 18 Toasty aromas are repeated on the palate alongside delicious soft and ripe strawberry fruit. Delicate tannins, refreshing acidity. Warm and powerful like a ChÃ¢teauneuf-du-Pape but with a leaner finish. Price Â£20 All About Wine, Best Cellars, D Byrne & Co, Flagship Wines, Hangingditch, John Hattersley, Park Vintners, WoodWinters Drink 2013â2018 Alc 13% Bodegas Muga Reserva 2008 Bodegas Muga, Reserva 2008 Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 18 Annette Scarfe MW 16.5 Textbook Reserva. Mocha and coffee beans on the nose. Concentrated stewed fruit with delicate spices. Savoury, juicy, developed, and round with a long finish. Price Â£13.50âÂ£19 Berry Bros & Rudd, Christopher Piper, Co-op, Majestic, Nickolls & Perks, The Wine Society, Thorman Hunt Drink 2013â2025 Alc 13.5% Luis CaÃ±as SelecciÃ³n de la Familia Reserva 2006 Luis CaÃ±as, SelecciÃ³n de la Familia, Reserva 2006 Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 17.5 Smoky coffee beans with violets and roses â a mineral, aromatic style. Firm but ripe tannins. Deep and dense, very spicy, with a lovely rustic touch and an impressively long finish. A rich, serious style. Price Â£19.99 Aged in Oak, Carruthers & Kent, Fine & Rare Drink 2013â2030 Alc 14.5% Taron Reserva 2005 Taron, Reserva 2005 Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 17.5 Delicate hazelnuts on the nose with juicy, ripe fruit. Developed and spicy but still with fresh red fruit. Delicious, well balanced and feminine, this shows delicate expression and a discreet elegance. Price POA Crush Wines Drink 2013â2025 Alc 13.5% Urbina Especial Reserva 2001 Urbina, Especial, Reserva 2001 Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 17 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 18.5 Wonderful and delicious. Very attractive nose, which is fresh yet rich and inviting. Sweet, jammy fruit and the palate shows great balance and acidity. Attractive and still very youthful. Price Â£18.95 City Beverage, Duncan Murray Wines, Guildford Wine, Vin Neuf Drink 2013â2023 Alc 14% ViÃ±a Real Oro Reserva 2007 ViÃ±a Real, Oro, Reserva 2007 Decanter average score: 17.5pts/20 (91/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 17.5 Restrained nose with sweet-and-sour soy sauce notes and delicate currant fruit. Restrained in attack, opens up in a most classic expression. Palate lively with plenty of tannin and acidity driving through to a red-fruited, mineral finish. Price Â£17.49 Berry Bros & Rudd, D Byrne & Co, Harrods, Majestic, The Wine Society Drink 2013â2025 Alc 13.5% Campillo Reserva 2006 Campillo, Reserva 2006 Decanter average score: 17.25pts/20 (90+/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 16 Ben Henshaw 18 Annette Scarfe MW 17.5 Soft cherry fruit, lovely freshness and balance in the mouth. Elegant mineral style with restrained fruit and herbal touches, with tomato leaf notes; attractive and juicy. Price Â£15.40âÂ£20 CellarVie, D Byrne & Co, Drinkshop, Eastfield Garden Centre, Nickolls & Perks, Portland Wine Cellars, Street Wines Drink 2013â2018 Alc 13.5% Eduardo C. Dominguez Fernandez Mentoste Reserva 2001 Eduardo C Dominguez Fernandez, Mentoste, Reserva 2001 Decanter average score: 17.25pts/20 (90+/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 17 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 17.5 Attractive red plums with juicy acidity. This is deep, delicious, well integrated and long, with a great, long savoury finish. Price Â£13.99 Vineyards of Sherborne Drink 2013â2023 Alc 12.5% Finca Nueva Crianza 2008 Finca Nueva, Crianza 2008 Decanter average score: 17.25pts/20 (90+/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 17 Attractive nose of herbal red fruits. Great, sweet, red-berry fruits on the palate alongside strawberry and red cherry. Soft tannins and a rounded finish, this is very good without being too showy. Price Â£9âÂ£10 Prohibition Wines, Wine Utopia Drink 2013â2020 Alc 13% Izadi Reserva 2008 Izadi, Reserva 2008 Decanter average score: 17.25pts/20 (90+/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 17 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 17.5 Polished oak dominates the nose with coffeebean and mocha. Attractive volatility gives the wine a lift, with its soft, ripe , structured tannins supporting rhubarb and mineral flavours, and a long finish. Price Â£12.99 Ake & Humphris, Aitken Wines, Bennettâs, Corks Out, Carruthers & Kent, HarperWells, Liberty Wines, Secret Cellar, WoodWinters Drink 2013â2017 Alc 14% MarquÃ©s de Murrieta Reserva 2007 MarquÃ©s de Murrieta, Reserva 2007 Decanter average score: 17.25pts/20 (90+/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 17 Ben Henshaw 17.5 Annette Scarfe MW 17 Very open and ready. Coffee notes, lovely sweet red fruit and delicious, dark berry compote on the palate supported by soft tannins and vanilla spice. Solidly built. Price Â£15âÂ£20 Berry Bros & Rudd, Handford, Haynes Hanson & Clark, Jeroboams, Oxford Wine Co, Planet of the Grapes, Portland Wine Co, Selfridges, Wine Rack Drink 2013â2020 Alc 14% Asda Extra Special Marques del Norte Reserva 2008 Asda, Extra Special, Marques del Norte, Reserva 2008 Decanter average score: 17pts/20 (90/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores : Pedro Ballesteros MW 16 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 18 Nose opens up nicely with air, showing delicate red fruits and fresh minerals. Firm structure with savoury, mineral undertones, plus sage and minty notes. Needs time to integrate further but is long and complex. Price Â£7.75 Asda Drink 2013â2020 Alc 14% Campo Viejo Dominio 2007 Campo Viejo, Dominio 2007 Decanter average score: 17pts/20 (90/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 18 Ben Henshaw 16 Annette Scarfe MW 17 Very open nose of eucalyptus and menthol. Fruit-forward, juicy, modern style with complexity and length, plus soft, finely grained tannins and a sweet finish. Chewy but has enough fruit concentration to support the structure. Price Â£20 Pernod Ricard UK Drink 2013â2025 Alc 13.5% Cune Crianza 2010 Cune, Crianza 2010 Decanter average score: 17pts/20 (90/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 17 Ben Henshaw 17 Annette Scarfe MW 17 Lovely aromas of fresh herbs, spice and red cherries. Baked black and red plums with spicy oak; has class and a long, fresh, open, herbal finish. Price Â£10 Booths, Majestic, Taurus Wines, Wholefoods, Wine Rack Drink 2013â2018 Alc 13.5% Paternina Banda Roja Reserva 2007 Paternina, Banda Roja, Reserva 2007 Decanter average score: 17pts/20 (90/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 16 Ben Henshaw 18 Annette Scarfe MW 17 Classic, developed aromas of toasted nuts, dried fruit and spices. Juicy fruit and fresh acidity, this is drinking well now with dark plums and ripe tannins, leading to a finish decorated with coffee and spice. Price Â£12.99âÂ£13.99 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Harrods, Oxford Wine Co, SH Jones, Wine Importers Edinburgh Drink 2013â2016 Alc 13% Rioja Vega EdiciÃ³n Limitada Crianza 2010 Rioja Vega, EdiciÃ³n Limitada, Crianza 2010 Decanter average score: 17pts/20 (90/100pts) Individual judgeâs scores: Pedro Ballesteros MW 17 Ben Henshaw 18 Annette Scarfe MW 16 Coconut milk, red berry fruits, sweet spice and damson aromas on the classy nose. Wellbalanced and long, this is rounded with a savoury edge and shows plenty of power; more reserva than crianza. Price Â£14 Coe Vintners, Merchant Vintners Drink 2013â2018 Alc 14%

24 great-value Riojas between £8-£20

Latest Wine News

Market Watch: Blue-chip Burgundy in the spotlight

Baudains: Five up-and-coming Italian talents to look out for in 2025

Rarely seen Napa Valley wine ranch on sale for $100m

Walls: Momento Mori

Putin’s wine removed from display at Moldovan winery