Persistence Pays Off: Or if you hang out at a table long enough, they bring out the really good stuff

Case in point, this Imperial Riserva 2004, being poured at the Rioja table at the 17th annual Great Match Spanish wine tasting event in New York on October 7th. This is an annual event that features 130 wines being poured for tasting from many of Spain's 74 denominations of origin.

The eloquent ladies at the Rioja tables had this rare bottle of Imperial Reserva 2004 squirreled away, and brought it out to pour after tasters had diligently worked their way up through the newer introductions. This medium bodied wine shows plum, blackberry and spices on the palate. Made using 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo grape varieties, this velvety-textured wine was aged in new French and American oak for 24 months.

---Monica Forrestall