Wines from the Rioja region of Spain were the first from that county to hit my radar. Over the last few years wines from other Spanish regions are rightfully getting a lot of acclaim. That doesn’t mean we should forget about Rioja which still represents some of the great values of the world. Today I’ll look at a Crianza from Campo Viejo. According to Wine law in Spain to be labeled as Crianza a red wine must be aged for at least 2 years with a minimum of 6 months in oak before release.
The Campo Viejo 2006 Crianza is composed primarily of Tempranillo with Garnacha and Mazuela blended in. Barrel aging occurred over 12 months. This was followed by bottle aging prior to release. The suggested retail price for this wine is $10.
Cherry and cedar aromas are prominent on the nose of this 2006 wine from Rioja. A persistent core of fruit presents itself throughout the palate; sour cherry, and raspberry are preeminent with subtler blackberry fruit as well as spice notes that include nutmeg and white pepper. Cherry pie crust characteristics lead the finish. They’re joined by continued red berry fruit and hints of dust. This wine has soft tannins and excellent acidity. This Crianza will pair well with a casual spread of hard cheeses, olives, bread and cured meats.
For $10 this wine is a very good deal. Whether you’re unfamiliar with offerings from Rioja and want to experiment or are looking for an everyday wine to keep on hand this selection is an attractive choice that features lots of appealing fruit and an easy going style.