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This ruby-colored wine has a nose of purple plum, black pepper and dried hillside herbs. Lightweight tannins and soft but noticeable acidity play backup to blackberry, ripe summer cherry, nutmeg, clove and violet flavors. — Mike DeSimone.
- What Is Rioja?
- What Color Is Rioja?
- What Does Rioja Mean?
- How to Pronounce Rioja?
- Where Does Rioja Come from?
- What Kind of Wine Is Rioja?
- Is Rioja Dry Or Sweet?
- What Does Rioja Taste like?
- How to Serve Rioja?
- How Long Should Rioja Breathe?
Most commonly known as Spain’s signature red blend, Rioja is, in fact, a term describing the blending of traditional Spanish red grape varieties. The base of the Rioja blend is Tempranillo, followed by Grenache (Garnacha), Graciano, and Mazuelo (Carignan or Cariñena). Selected producers have dispensation to include Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, ...
As mentioned above regarding Rioja color, Rioja is a blend of different grape varieties. For the most part, though, the grapes used in the Rioja blend are similar looking in the vineyard. For this reason, we are going to describe the appearance of Tempranillo, the dominant grape variety. The Tempranillo vine produces large bunches of thick-skinned ...
As the name implies, the Rioja blend is named after the autonomous community Rioja in northern Spain. The first known use of Rioja was in 1863, in the meaning of red wine from the Rioja region in Spain.
The Rioja pronunciation is a matter of concern for those of us looking to develop our wine knowledge. Frankly, learning to pronounce the name of this wine correctly is of the utmost importance, considering how popular and prestigious, within the wine circles, Rioja is. You can find many audio and video examples of how to pronounce Rioja online. The...
The Rioja blend comes from the Rioja region, northern Spain. Specifically, it is in the Upper Ebro geographical region. Rioja is divided into three sub-regions, based around the city Logroño.Rioja Alavesa is to the west of Logroño, on the north bank of River Ebro in the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountain range. The larger Rioja Alta zone is south...
Red Rioja is made in different ways, depending on the style the winemaker wants to achieve. Riojas designed for early drinking undergo semi-carbonic maceration to produce wines with vibrant red fruit flavors and low tannins. Wines designed for long-term maturation, such as a Gran Reserva, undergo traditional fermentation instead. Many producers use...
Rioja is always a dry wine. In fact, most Riojas are bone-dry, without the slightest amount of residual sugar. If wine enthusiasts taste a bit of sweetness, it comes from the high alcohol concentration and the jamminess of the fruits. As Rioja matures over time, the strawberry and raspberry notes become mellow and juicy, increasing their flavor int...
Regardless of the aging category, the Rioja tasting notes highlight tastes of dark fruit, high tannins, and racy acidity. To put it into perspective, Rioja wine is similar to Cabernet Sauvignonin boldness, but it shows a pronounced fruit character, too. For this reason, it is ideal for wine enthusiasts who enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc...
Considering that Rioja wine comes in many styles, finding the best way to serve it is challenging. Each Rioja has different serving requirements. In general, Riojas below 41ºF (5ºC) or above 65ºC (18ºC) are not that good as their expressiveness decreases. If structured wines get too cold, they taste thin, whereas if they reach higher temperatures t...
Since most Rioja wines are aged in oak and have a woody taste, decanting them seems a great idea. An hour or two suffices, as it enables Riojas to come in contact with the oxygen in the air and develop their aromatics and flavors, as well as reach their full potential. That said, not every Rioja must be decanted. Juven Riojas have to be drunk in th...
- Producer: Rioja Vega. Vintage: 2018. Blend: Tempranillo Blanco. Style: Rioja Blanco Reserva. Colour: White. ABV: 13.5% UK retail price: £45. Medal: Master. Here’s something genuinely exciting for lovers of fine white wine – a drop based on an extremely rare grape with the qualities of great Bourgogne blanc.
- Producer: Marqués de Cáceres. Vintage: 2020. Blend: Garnacha 60%, Tempranillo 40% Style: Rioja Rosado. Colour: Rosé. ABV: 13.5% UK retail price: £10. Medal: Silver.
- Producer: Bodegas Navajas. Vintage: 2016. Blend: 100% Tempranillo. Style: Rioja Crianza. Colour: Red. ABV: 13.5% UK retail price: £9. Medal: Gold. Testament to the good value on offer from Rioja is this crianza red from Bodegas Navajas.
- Producer: Bodegas Faustino. Vintage: 2020. Blend: 100% Tempranillo. Style: Rioja joven. Colour: Red. ABV: 13.5% UK retail price: £8. Medal: Silver. Here’s a genuine bargain: a juicy wine with ripe raspberry and strawberry fruit, a touch of peppery spice, and some creamy vanilla, along with some fine dry tannin to cleanse and refresh the mouth.
- Vicki Denig
- Bodegas Muga Rosado. Buy on Drizly Buy on Vivino Buy on Wine.com. This fruit-driven wine is everything you want from rosé. It is fresh and fruit-forward and pairs well with nearly every happy-hour snack you can think of.
- Cune (CVNE) Gran Reserva. Buy on Vivino Buy on Wine.com Buy on Totalwine.com. This full-bodied, flavor-packed gran reserva offers one of the best quality-to-price ratios in all of Rioja.
- Hermanos Peciña Señorío de P. Peciña Crianza. Buy on Wine.com Buy on Vivino. This ripe yet restrained crianza comes from one of the region’s most respected producers and seriously overdelivers for the price.
- Ostatu Rioja Blanco. Buy on Wine.com Buy on Vivino. This refreshing white Rioja (Rioja blanco) hails from the subzone of Rioja alavesa and is crafted from a blend of old-vine (30 to 80 years) viura and malvasia.
- Wine Enthusiast
- La Rioja Alta 2012 Viña Arana Gran Reserva (Rioja); $48, 94 points. Dry oak aromas are the greeting, and this smells earthy and cheesy in a classical way; along with that, this offers ripe scents of raisiny berry fruits and vanilla.
- Bodegas Tobía 2014 Óscar Tobía Gran Reserva (Rioja); $50, 93 points. Foresty berry and spiced black cherry aromas blend with notes of dried fruits and pipe tobacco.
- Campillo 2016 Crianza (Rioja); $25, 92 points. Tight-fisted plum and currant aromas are punchy, while this crianza from a great year excels across a lively palate.
- Muga 2015 Reserva Unfiltered (Rioja); $30, 92 points. Earthy black fruit aromas are warm and ripe. Befitting a reserva from a hot year like 2015, this is big-bodied and flush, with flavors of toasty oak, chocolate and mixed berry fruits.
Jun 1, 2023 · How long should you keep your Rioja before drinking it? We present a guide covering the vintages 2000 - 2021.
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Sep 17, 2021 · When you pick up a bottle, you already have a preconception of what it’s going to be and what it’s going to taste like: a mature oaked red wine. In many cases, you’d be right – but there’s more to Rioja than that.
