One of the many things I learned during weekly wine tastings at a local wine shop years ago is the pleasure of discovering a delicious wine for not very much money. It has become increasingly enjoyable as I have watched the price of some wine reach a crazy expensive level. The Tempranillo blend we’re tasting today definitely fits the delicious-wine-for-not-very-much-money description. We received this wine as a tasting sample.
Rioja is located in the north of Spain and covers three autonomous communities: La Rioja, the Basque Country and Navarra. As with many important wine regions, a river runs through it: The Ebro River. Its three sub-regions are Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental. Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa are cooler relative to Rioja Oriental. Rioja is well suited to growing red varieties which comprise most of the plantings. Tempranillo is the star in Rioja with a supporting cast that includes Garnacha, Mazuelo (aka Carignan), Graciano and Maturana Tinta. Authorized white varieties include Viura, Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía, Tempranillo Blanco and Maturana Blanca, Turruntés (not the same as Torrontés), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. White wine, rosé and sparkling wine are also made in Rioja.
In recognition of the high quality of wines made in Rioja the region received the Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) designation in 1991, the first to earn the recognition. Priorat is the only other region to earn the designation from Spanish regulators; there you will see DOQ on the label.
Red Riojas have traditionally been aged in American oak, but French oak is also used. This is the case with the Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva we’re tasting today that is aged in both American and French oak. The blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo was aged for three years minimum with 18 months in oak and 18 months in bottle.
2018 Campo Viejo Reserva, Rioja DOCa — medium ruby with generous aromas of plums, blackberries and black cherries. Flavors include mixed dark berries, leather and earth in a medium body supported by drying, grippy tannins. Dried dill lingers on the palate. 13.5% ABV. SRP $16
This blend is balanced and complex without tasting overdone. It is a structured red wine that is still sippable. Bodegas Campo Viejo is a very large winery, so you will likely not have trouble finding their wines. And, with a SRP of only $16, it’s also likely you will find a bottle for less $$ without looking too hard.
Thanks to Calhoun & Company Communications for organizing our tasting.
Cheers!
