Campo Viejo Rioja Crianza 2007

I've tried this Crianza from Spain's Rioja region from many vintages and always enjoyed it immensely. The grapes used here are a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 5% Mazuelo that is aged for 12 months in barrel before bottle aging for another 12. Dark ruby colors with earthy aromas marrying with cherries, plum and vanilla and completing the circle with toasted oak. $10.

La Montesa Palacios Remondo 2004

From what the folks at La Rioja Wine Seminar call their Vanguard Signature Series, this red wine from Spain is a blend of 40% Granacha, 35% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, and 10% Graciano aged 12 months in barrel, and contains 14.1% alcohol. It’s color is a ruby red with good complexity-- on the nose—there’s an earthy, fruity, smoky barnyard aroma and on the palate fresh ripe cherries, raspberry, and toasted chocolate. The combination of funky aromas and bright fruity flavors made for an impressive contrast.

Bodegas Riojanas Puerta Vieja Crianza 2007 Rioja

From La Rioja region of Spain, Bodegas Riojanas produces this Crianza, a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano aged for 18 months in American oak, followed by six months bottle aging before release.

Dark ruby colors paint a bold picture to prepare for the bright and funky nose showing earth and bramble, dried fruit, cured meat, black cherries and spice... while the palate expresses bold signs of umami, coconut, dried cherries and earth. Easy tannins and acidity with a surefooted balance that makes this a real find at around $11. What a complex wine for the price?!

Definitely a food wine that works really well with red meat or sauces. Don't miss this one!

Campo Viejo Reserva Tempranillo 2003

©photo by Dave Trieger 2008

This Tempranillo from the Rioja region of Spain is aged in oak for 18 months and in bottle for 18 more. I had originally thought it was 100% Tempranillo, but It's actually a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, and 10% Mazuelo... it's a deep warm ruby color, with medium body. On the nose are ripe fruits (almost strawberry), a bit of ash and a mild minerality, along with ripe fruits, sour cherry and licorice on the palate. The soft, full finish is excellently balanced, especially when paired with a good homemade pasta with meat sauce and a side of sausage and red and yellow peppers prepared by Jody A. The price for this gem was around $14 at The Wine Room of Forest Hills.

Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Reserva 2001

70% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, and 15% Mazuelo, all varietals are fermented separately in American and French oak casks for 16 months. Color is deep cherry with oak, leather and spice aromas. It has good body, structure and balance with a long finish. Found this at a tasting at Best Cellars on 3rd avenue an 87th street in the $15 range. Nice.

Colleccion Vivanco 4 Varietals Dinistia Vivanco

Another tasting entry from La Rioja Wine Seminar at Astor Center, this one is a red made from 70% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 10% Garnacha and 5% Mazuelo-- all fermented separately in French oak vats. Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels. Color is a deep rose red with a floral nose of violets and cherries. On the palate is oak, toast, flower petals and cherries.

Monte Real Gran Reserva 1998 Bodegas Riojanas

As promised, here are my first tasting notes from La Rioja Wine Seminar at the Astor Center. In the 2nd hour they served up a group of nine Classic red wines from Spain, namely Reservas and Gran Reservas. According the governing traditions the Reservas must spend (at least) 1 year in oak barrels and 2 years in bottle; Gran Reservas spend (at least) 2 years in barrels and 3 years in bottle.

This one was one of my favorite wines of the day. The Monte Real GR blend is 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano, aged in American oak casks for 24 to 30 months and in bottle for 36 months. On the nose are beautiful bright cherries with aromatic spices and ripe summer fruits, while on the palate waves of dark fruit make for an excellent balance a and lush, long finish. I did a search and PJ Wine Co. has it listed retail at $26.99. This, I believe, is an amazing value.

Marquez de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2002 Spain

Spain • This dry red wine in the familiar silver netted bottle is made from 90% tempranillo, 10% graciano y mazuelo grapes aged 2 years in American oak. Color is ruby red with medium to heavy weight and on the nose is raspberry and cherry and on the palate chocolate, tabasco and slight hint of mold or mushroom. Price ranges $13-17 and 14% alcohol.

Monte Real Gran Reserva 1998, Bodegas Riojanas DOCa Rioja Spain

According to the governing traditions the Reservas from Rioja must spend (at least) 1 year in oak barrels and 2 years in bottle; Gran Reservas spend (at least) 2 years in barrels and 3 years in bottle.

The Monte Real GR blend is 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano, aged in American oak casks for 24 to 30 months and in bottle for 36 months. I first sampled this in 2008 at the Astor Center's Rioja Wine Seminar where my notes are as follows:

On the nose are beautiful bright cherries with aromatic spices and ripe summer fruits, while on the palate waves of dark fruit make for an excellent balance and a lush, long finish. I did a search and PJ Wine Co. has it listed retail at $26.99. This, I believe, is an amazing value.

Here are my notes on the same wine 4 years later at the "Spain's Great Match/WineFoodDesign" held in the Metropolitan Center in NYC this past week. 

Pale ruby colors in the glass with burnt orange around the rim, mild spices, white pepper, subdued, ripe cherry, smooth, mild wood, very smooth finish. Presently the SRP is $55.

Bodegas de Los Herederos Del Marques De Riscal Reserva Rioja 2003

Exhibiting a wonderful freshness, this red wine from Spain is made from 90% Tempranillo grapes and 10% Graziano y Mazuelo then aged 24 months in American oak. Showing colors of deep red and warmer amber hues around the edges, this Rioja has medium body and soft tannins.

On the nose are delicious aromas of black cherries behind layers of herbs and another of dark berries and intense vanilla.

On the palate are ripe, exotic flavors, as unique as coconut, licorice and black currant leading up to a long tobacco, oaky finish.

©2008 photo by Dave Trieger

Marques De Riscal Tempranillo Reserva 2005, Rioja Spain

In 1858 Herederos de Marqués de Riscal became the first winery in the Rioja to produce wines following the Bordeaux method of slow fermentation and careful blending. This 2005 is hand picked using only the best grapes of the vintage made from 90% Tempranillo with a 10% blending of Mazuelo & Graciano, and aged in American oak barrels for 2 years before bottling for a year before release, thereby softening the tannins a bit.

Deep purple rose colors, with beautiful swirls of umami, tobacco, dark black cherry, spice and a balsamic note on the nose. The palate echoes its spicy nature along with the cherries, but now the cherries are showing a smoky earth, violets and ripeness, and spreading the finish evenly to the back of the tongue in a wave of warmth. And the finish goes on for a good distance.

Depending on where you live you should be able to find a bottle for between $15 and $20 and it can be cellared for at least another 10 years. Alcohol by volume: 13.5%

Winemaker's notes:
A dark cherry color with good depth. Balsamic aromas with hints of ripe fruit, complex and spicy. The attack is fresh and light, with soft, rounded tannins. The finish proves persistent with some reminders of toasted oak. Its passage through the mouth is pleasant and elegant, fresh and easy to drink.