Viña Real Plata Crianza Rioja Red Wine - Journey Through Rioja Wine #3

90% Tempranillo, 3% Grenache, 3% Graciano and 3% Mazuelo from Rioja, Spain.

SRP of $15 and available for as low as $12. Sample received courtesy Rioja Wines for review purposes.

From the bottle:

"Viña Real Crianza is produced from a selection of Tempranillo grapes, hand harvested from vineyards located in the villages of Languardia and Elciego (Alava). It ages for 12 months in French and American oak casks and rests some months in the bottle before being released.

13.5% Alcohol"

Rioja wines can be classified into four categories:

• Young wines: Wines in their first or second year.
• Crianza wines: Wines which are at least in their third year, having spent a minimum of one year in casks and a few months in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum cask ageing period is 6 months.
• Reserva wines: Selected wines of the best vintages that have been aged for a minimum of 3 years, with at least one year in casks. For white wines, the minimum ageing period is 2 years, with at least 6 months in casks.
• Gran Reserva wines: Selected wines from exceptional vintages which have spent at least 2 years in oak casks and 3 years in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum ageing period is 4 years, with at least one year in casks.

Today's wine, the 2007 C.V.N.E. Viña Real Plata Rioja Red Wine is a Crianza which means it is in at least its third year and in this case it spent 12 to 14 months in American oak casks. All that is rather irrelevant if the wine doesn't taste good, but there are no worries about that here. The Viña Real begins with aromas of black cherry, plum, raspberry, violet and a little vanilla. This is a medium to medium-light bodied wine that delivers a rich and fruity flavor. There is just a little spice coming through on the finish. We found this wine to improve with a little air so give it some time to breathe before drinking.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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