Rare Rioja in Magnums

Large format bottles make an impressive entrance at the holiday table. What could be more festive than popping the cork on a magnum (the equivalent of two bottles) or a double magnum (four bottles) and pouring for the entire extended table?

Usually, magnums and their bigger brothers are reserved for important wines that age a good while. The best Riojas are released with some age on them as a matter of principle, but large format bottles are still a relative rarity. That’s why it’s so exciting that the Rare Wine Co., an online wine importer and retailer based in Sonoma County, has bought up a stash of 2001 CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) “Imperial Gran Reserva” Rioja in hard-to-find magnums. At $87.95 each or $250 for a 3-pack, it’s a very attractive deal for a mature Rioja of this quality.

To order, call (800) 999-4342. While you’re at it, you might want to lay in a bottle of vintage Madeira, too, for after dinner.

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