2001 Luis Cañas Amaren Rioja Reserva Duo

Tastes like: Dried cherry, wild strawberry, sandalwood, cedar, spice
Pairs with: Braised meats, grilled sausages, tapas, hard cheeses
Good for: All occasions
Drink this: Now through 2019
Alcohol: 14%

2 x 2001 Luis Cañas Amaren Rioja Reserva

While most people honor their mothers on Mother's Day and birthdays, Juan Luis Cañas pays tribute to the memory of his mother – who dedicated her life to working in the vineyards and the cellar at Bodegas Luis Cañas – with a wine, Amaren ("for mother" in Basque). Like vintage Champagne or Port, Amaren is produced only in the very best years and from the very best plots – and the 2001 Luis Cañas Amaren Rioja Reserva proved its superior origins when it won Best Wine in Spain at Madrid Fusión, one of the most important international gastronomic meetings.

The vineyards used for Amaren are quite old, averaging 60 years, but many of the vines that produce fruit for this wine easily exceed 100 years in age. The fruit from these old vines is remarkably concentrated, although production is minuscule in some of the older plots. Cañas maximizes the use of natural resources and minimizes the use of chemical products to ensure sustainable agriculture for future generations. In the bodega the wine was aged for 18 months in French oak, lending it a modern and polished style. At the same time, non-interventionist winemaking respects the outstanding terroir of the vineyards.

If you are a fan of Rioja or aged Old World wines, this one is not to be missed. An outstanding wine from an outstanding vintage doesn't stick around for very long, and certainly not when the price is this good.

Tasting Note
A decade of aging has given this wine a brilliant garnet hue, a complex bouquet, and a soft, silky texture. Dried cherry and wild strawberry, sandalwood, cedar and spice give way to a long and savory finish. Drink this now or cellar it for another five to seven years. Pair this wine with braised meats, grilled sausages, flavorful tapas or hard cheeses. (14% ABV)

—Janine Lettieri

Janine Lettieri has worked in New York City fine dining for over a decade with sommelier roles at Fleur de Sel, the three-star Michelin restaurant Le Bernardin, and the Waverly Inn. Janine holds certificates from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the American Sommelier Association, as well as a Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Janine is pursuing the Master of Wine credential, which only 30 Americans hold. Learn more about Janine here, or follow her on Twitter: @JLettieri