Criteria: an interesting wine (not too cheap) and one that you can enjoy with dinner or friends (not too expensive). And very good! Selected by Jack, our reporter in Stockholm.
Faustino I Grand Reserva, Rioja
A red wine that I’ve always had a bit of a faiblesse for is Faustino’s archetypical Faustino I, a Grand Reserva in a traditional barrel-aged style. At the moment you can get the 1996 at the Swedish monopoly (Systembolaget) for 149 kronor (~15 euro) and it has just the perfect maturity to go with a well made country chicken or other white meat. The delicious vanilla and dill (!) nose is perfectly balance with the maturity of the wine and a touch of acidity, with some fruit and berries at the back end. A perfect Rioja to enjoy a dark January night, in the classic, old style that is at risk of extinction from the onslaught of more modern alcohol-filled power wines.
