El Coto Mayor, Rioja Reserva

You’ve surely noticed a couple of old-school Riojas gracing our site over the past two months, and although they haven’t survived long, they’ve certainly left a lasting impression on the lucky few who were able to acquire them. The quality and allure of these antiques are simply amazing: The ’76 Crianza was ethereal and Burgundian; the ’64 Gran Reserva was a savory smoke show; and today’s 1988 Reserva exists somewhere between the two, except in price. Coming in at just $49, Coto Mayor’s decades-old Rioja is an extremely rare and affordable opportunity to acquire a flawlessly stored classic. It’s got all the hallmarks one could ask for: dried plum, sweet-sour interplay, vintage leather, sandalwood; it’s savory perfection in a glass. Regrettably, this marks the third and final parcel of old Rioja we scored, and if more exist on the horizon, we are currently unaware of it. What we do know, however, is that the window of opportunity to acquire a deeply traditional, 30+-year-old Rioja with