It’s hard to believe that summer is now a distant memory and, in just a few short weeks, Thanksgiving will be here. And you know what that means: it will officially be the holiday season.

For the lead-up to Thanksgiving, I will be posting one wine each day that would be a great choice with the turkey dinner, or whatever you choose to eat that day. The wines I’ll be recommending will hail from several categories: refreshing bubbly, invigorating whites, full-bodied whites, light reds, rich reds, and sweet wines.

Only you can decide which type you’ll feel like drinking, but I can promise you that all my selections will be wines that are made with care in the vineyards and in the cellar, and those I believe are tasty and balanced—wines meant to go with and enhance the dining experience.

Here goes with wine #1.

Montecillo Rioja Gran Reserva 2011

**The Rioja Gran Reserva is shown here with a Chili cumin-flavored chicken, bean and tomato stew.**

First off, before getting to how delicious this wine is, I have to mention what a steal it is. For a mere $22, you will be getting an 11-year-old red wine from one of the world’s top wine regions. Rioja wines offer some of the best values out there, especially the Gran Reservas which are required by law to age a minimum of five years in a combination of oak barrels and bottle before being released to the market. By the time you purchase these wines, they are at an optimal time for drinking.

Bodegas Montecillo Gran Reserva 2011 is a blend of predominantly Tempranillo (92%), with a small amount of Graciano (8%). The entrancing and fruity cherry and blueberry aromas are a great foil to its earthy, leathery notes. I have to admit, the nose reminded me of a fine, aged Bordeaux! And after just one sip you’ll be enchanted with flavors of plums, dark cherries intermingled with vanilla oak and baking spices. But the wine’s complexity and grace come from how beautifully integrated the earthy, leatheriness in the flavor combines with everything else, including the light and elegant dusty tannins.

I suggest opening this beautiful wine an hour or so before the guests arrive. Maybe even sneak in a glass for yourself before the party begins. Believe me, this bottle won’t last very long and you don’t want to miss out.