Red Rioja as a summer wine? Have a bit of faith, please, because a slightly full-bodied red actually goes perfectly with anything straight off the barbecue. That’s why this wine, with its handy screw cap, belongs in this tasting box. It’s a blend of Spain’s star grape, Tempranillo, mixed with a touch of Mazuelo, Graciano and Maturana. All powerful varieties that benefit from the softening effect of oak ageing. This wine, too, was aged for thirteen months in American oak barrels, hence the mention crianza on the label. This term refers to the number of months the wine has been aged in barriques, the wooden barrels. This tells you, without tasting it, to what extent the oak ageing has influenced the flavour. In this Rioja, you can clearly detect notes of coconut and vanilla, dark fruit, and a hint of smokiness and spice. We served it slightly chilled, which makes it the perfect accompaniment to grilled tuna or a seafood paella. It also tastes fantastic with chorizo, olives and hard cheeses such as Manchego.
Available from Le Grand Cru Heemstede
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