Compañia Vinícola del Norte de España Viña Real Rioja Crianza 2022 750ml

Excellent, benchmark-quality Rioja crianza that shows the spicy side of the vintage. Peppery, juicy and bright, with a medium body and a nice chew of fine-grained tannins. Quite long. A smart buy. Drink or hold.

Excellent, benchmark-quality Rioja crianza that shows the spicy side of the vintage. Peppery, juicy and bright, with a medium body and a nice chew of fine-grained tannins. Quite long. A smart buy. Drink or hold.

The 2021 Viña Real Crianza was produced with 90% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano from Rioja Alavesa. It matured in French and American oak barrels for 13 to 14 months. It has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and is polished and easy to understand. All the younger reds have some common aromatic notes reminiscent of honey and beeswax, aromatic herbs and berries. It has abundant, fine-grained tannins. 650,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2024.

The 2021 Viña Real Crianza was produced with 90% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano from Rioja Alavesa. It matured in French and American oak barrels for 13 to 14 months. It has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and is polished and easy to understand. All the younger reds have some common aromatic notes reminiscent of honey and beeswax, aromatic herbs and berries. It has abundant, fine-grained tannins. 650,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2024.

The 2022 Crianza Vina Real is 90% Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano from Laguardia and Labastida. The nose displays delicate herbal notes of pine and chamomile over cherry and sour cherry, with subtle touches of oak in the background. Approachable and finely textured, it combines velvety and chalky tannins for a modern, refined take on Rioja Crianza. The 2022 is languorous and expressive.