This fantastic Bobal comes from a small wine region that most wine maps forget to include. That’s not unexpected as hundreds of tiny and obscure wine regions don’t make the cut. Ribera del Jucar is next to the slightly more famous Manchuela DO where the claim to fame varietal for both of these wine regions is a local varietal, Bobal.

Bobal has always been used locally as a blending grape, but it’s becoming more common over the past decade to offer it as a single-varietal wine. This particular bottle is a great introduction to the grape. This particular wine is an intense cherry red with a violet tinge. Dark red fruits, hints of strawberry and raspberry, balanced with smooth toasted notes and spicy, licorice hues. Tasty, fruity wine, well-rounded tannins with light touches of smoky, toasted vanilla.