On a recent holiday to Spain, the in-laws bought us back a Rioja Crianza as a present. Great for me, but not so much for the other half isn’t a fan of red wine! Never mind, it meant all the more for me!
The term Crianza relates to the ageing period of the wine. In this case, the wine cannot be sold until its three years old, and has spent a minimum of six months in oak barrels. However, for Rioja, it needs to spend twelve months in oak. The usual grapes that go into the blend of a Rioja are Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache).
The wine had a wonderful deep red colour, with aromas of black fruit such as blackberries and plums, with a touch of spice in the background. Again these came through on the palate, with wonderfully smooth tannins and oak characteristics, resulting in a beautifully balanced wine.
Recommendation? Yes I would, just be careful of other Rioja Criaza on the markets, as some are not as good as this one!
The term Crianza relates to the ageing period of the wine. In this case, the wine cannot be sold until its three years old, and has spent a minimum of six months in oak barrels. However, for Rioja, it needs to spend twelve months in oak. The usual grapes that go into the blend of a Rioja are Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache).
The wine had a wonderful deep red colour, with aromas of black fruit such as blackberries and plums, with a touch of spice in the background. Again these came through on the palate, with wonderfully smooth tannins and oak characteristics, resulting in a beautifully balanced wine.
Recommendation? Yes I would, just be careful of other Rioja Criaza on the markets, as some are not as good as this one!
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