A wine that is extremely popular in Spain is the 2012 Cune Crianza, the usual Tempranillo-based blend with 15% Garnacha Tinta and Mazuelo matured in oak barrels for one year. The nose starts with notes of creamy oak that soon give way to aromas of ripe berries, blackcurrants and plums that are quite spicy and showy (revealing hints from both American and French oak) with a fresh, herbal, raspberry leaf touch. The palate is light to medium-bodied, polished and soft, with unnoticeable tannins and very well-integrated oak. It is easy to drink and to understand by the wide audience. A very good commercial Rioja, it is approachable now, but will also keep. This is bottled in different lots as the market requires, and was about to be bottled when I tasted it. A whopping 4.5 million bottles of this wine are produced.

Cherry and vanilla flavors mingle with leafy and spicy accents in this round red. Orange peel acidity, cedar and tobacco notes give this a traditional accent. Stays fresh and balanced through the finish. Drink now through 2025. 2,000 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add