RIOJA VEGA | Rioja | Reserva | 2015
tempranillo | graciano | carignan

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The wine we are going to review today is one that we’ve patiently kept in the queue for some time, as this is a genuine Rioja blend from Spain – Rioja Reserva 2015 by Rioja Vega. Rioja is Spain’s most famous wine region, known for its fruity-savory and dusty wines that have the ability to age well fro many years. Rioja is one of very few European winemaking regions that uses american oak barrels for ageing and is moderated by the Sierra Cantabria – a small but jagged mountain range that stops clouds from coming into the Rioja valley. The wines of Rioja are based mainly on the tempranillo variety and the wine we are reviewing today is a blend of tempranillo, graciano and mazuelo (which is the name of the carignan grape variety in Rioja). This particular wine is made out of grapes that were sourced from 30-years old vines planted on 400m altitude on clay, slit and loam soils that are rich in pebble stones, and aged for 24 months in american oak barrels, with another year in the bottle before it was deemed ready for release. But enough theory, that said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
colour: medium-deep ruby color
clarity: hazy garnet shades on the rim

//Olfactory
intensity: powerful & mature
fruit profile: red fruits | black fruits
__red fruits: red plum | red currant | cranberry
__black fruits: black cherry | black plum | blackberry | brumble
fruit character: ripe & overripe

//Flavor
non fruit: herbal | spice | oak | savory | earthy | other
__herbal: fennel | mint | eucalyptus
__spice: peppercorn | nutmeg | anise
__oak: roasted oakwood | coconut | vanilla | sun dried oak
__savory: leather | brown olive
__earthy: loam | clay
__other: black bread
primary layer: fruity–savory

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: medium+
tannin: medium
__grip: fine
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
body: supple & round | medium+

//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits
fruit character: overripe
non fruit: spice & oak
finish: long
aftertaste: crisp

//Scoring
RIOJA VEGA | Rioja | Reserva | 2015
variety: tempranillo | graciano | carignan
country: Spain
region: Rioja
rating: 94.5

//Conclusion
maturity: in its prime | drink now or age for 3-4 years
verdict: great | a must try wine

//Prediction
RP rating: 90+

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This is definitely a great wine of Spain and, with a total of 94.5 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Verdict: this is a very round, supple and voluptuous Rioja wine, with a very plump and velvety palate. The wine is right there, at the summit of its prime form, therefore we would recommend to drink it now or in the next 3 to 4 years, in order to enjoy it at its finest, as we firmly believe that it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon than a day too late. On the nose the wine brings a mixture of ripe and overripe red fruits in the foreground, followed by a very appealing, spicy-oaky background and a subtle, earthy-savory layer in between. On the palate the wine delivers exuberant acidity, fine-grained tannins and just a touch of alcoholic warmth showing through on the mouthfeel, that leads to an appealingly crisp aftertaste. All in all, this is a quite harmonious and well structured wine, with a good ageing potential – a wine that will pair nicely with any delicate meats, like for example Tournedos Rossini or a classic fillet mignon steak. Enjoy!

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.