It's difficult not to be excited by the arrival of this perennial favorite. In fact, this is one of the finest vintages of this Crianza to-date. It delivers lots of warm black and red fruits in a well-balanced, medium-textured frame. The oak takes a back seat as the wine ages in used barrels which makes it all about the fruit. It's tough to buy only one bottle considering the price.

There is so much going on with this wine. The easiest way to entice anyone with this wine is the value. You will be hard pressed to find a wine with this much character for this price anywhere else in the store. For some that is enough, but not for me. This is sourced from small parcels of organically farmed, head trained vines that are grown around the medieval village of Laguardia. This is in the “Sonsierra” of Rioja, the region that is located to the North of the Ebro River approaching the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The wine is 85% Tempranillo and 15% Manzuelo (Carignan). The fruit is hand harvested and fermented with native yeasts in large concrete vats. After fermentation the wine is aged in a mixture of old barrels, both French and American oak. The purity of the 2019 vintage is on display with this wine. Those classic dark fruit notes are present, backed with muted herbal and spice tones. The oak is present but would not not call this an oaky wine. The palate is medium bodied, polished, and fresh. This vintage has a surprising suppleness to it. The fruit is brighter than the nose on the palate and has more variety to it. There is a little more spice on the palate and a little less herbal tone. The tannins are present and polished. The finish has a slight savory quality to it as well as a faint minerality to it which is classic to the region. I cannot wait to see what this wine becomes, yes this is a wine for your cellar (if you have the room and patience, I have had 10-year-old bottles of this that were great!). Realistically you, and I, will not do that. The most aging this wine will receive is the time it takes to get to the last bottle in the case. This is a classic Crianza, something that will pair well with just about anything that you will serve red wine with, and at the price point it makes it all too easy to extend the evening.