Compare at $25/bottle elsewhere

90-points, Guía Peñín
90-points, James Suckling

As testified previously in these pages, you'll find no more a rockstar and defining figure in Spanish winemaking than El Pionero Manuel Quintano (1756-1818). Having translated modern Bordelaise winemaking techniques to the Rioja region, he unleashed the revolution largely responsible for the region's global prestige and recognition today.

On offer today is the homage, namesake bottling from the Labistida family's Manuel Quintano project. The 2020 "El Pionero" is a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha with 12 months in new French oak, and built to age at 14% alc. The winery conditions each bottle for 12 additional months in cellar, so this is a great, ready to drink (after a bit of travel shock shakes off) bottle for your collection!

This vintage just scored 90-points from the very conservatively scoring Guía Peñín, and this as well as previous vintages are chock-full of 90- to 92-point scores from James Suckling, year over year.

95% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha
12 months in new French oak
Minimum 12 additional months of bottle conditioning before release
14% alc.