Possibly one of the most consistent and delicious wines we offer from Spain under $15, the 2019 Bodegas Casa Juan “Señor de Lesmos” Crianza Rioja delivers a lot of character and earth-driven complexity for a very modest price. This wine is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo (Carignan), all sourced from old en vaso (head trained) vines, with an average age of forty-five years. The vineyards are farmed organically, and the grapes are hand-harvested. Fermentation takes place in 24,000L concrete tanks, with daily pumpovers to introduce oxygen and preserve aromatics. The wine is then matured in a combination of older French and American oak barrels. Now with over five years of total maturation in barrel and bottle, this wine shows still youthful cranberry and dried cherry notes up front, followed quickly by more savory mushroom, tea leaf and dried oregano. The palate is so classically Old World, with firm but well-integrated tannins and a persistent core of acidity to hold everything together. Unlike Reserva and Gran Reserva styles where the oak often peeks through or even dominates the palate, the focus for this Crianza is pure, red fruit framed by the earthy Rioja terroir. This is simply a tremendous weeknight wine that would pair well with many different foods – pizza, tomato-based pasta sauces, burgers, or even just a charcuterie board. Considering that most wine at this price point has some mechanized production, either in the vineyard or winery, this is an unbeatable price. Handmade, family-owned, organically farmed – what’s not to like?