This weekend we have tried a new Rioja made with Maturana grapes, Marqués de Reinosa 2020. It was a gift of Ignacio Castillo, a dear old friend who has the wonderful habit of sharing with me his wine discoveries.

Maturana is known as the Cabernet of Rioja, a distant cousin from this well-known grape. Its production is small and it is usually added to Riojas made with tempranillo. In the last years, a few vignerons in the region have dared to create 100% Maturana wines, often with great success.

Marqués de Reinosa is a return to a more simple and better world, homeward bound. It has a frank taste that charms you: fruit, spices and balsamic notes in a perfect combination. With a beautiful intense dark red color, it sells for 18 euros. As we tasted at a family dinner before leaving for different Easter trips, I thought about the essence of wine, an ancient miracle that smooths the path for good conversation and friendship.