Viña Jaraba, La Mancha (Spain) 2017

 The growing season of 2017 was downright hot almost everywhere in Western Europe, so vintners who were successful were ones who knew how to deal with heat.  That’s surely true of the best producers in La Mancha, and La Jaraba is indisputably among a handful of producers at the very top of the quality pyramid in this very big region.  Rich and ripe with more structure and oak showing even than the younger 2020 “Selección Especial” from this house, this is a truly astonishing bargain for $16.  A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot that was aged for 12 months in 70% American and 30% French oak barrels.  Some tasters will actually prefer this wine to the slightly more expensive “Selección Especial” from 2020, that though I do not lean that way, anybody who finds any of the wines from this house to buy would be insane not to try all of them.