2011 Montecillo Rioja Crianza Tempranillo Wine Review

Have you ever wondered what the date (year on the wine bottle) meant?  Is it the year the wine was made, the year it was released, or the year the grapes were harvested? Though wine laws vary in different parts of the world, the vintage year in every case is the year the grapes were harvested.  

In the case of this week’s Wine Wednesday feature, the 2011 Montecillo Rioja Crianza Tempranillo (TEM-pra-KNEE-oh), the grapes for this wine were harvested in 2011. Tempranillo is the primary red wine varietal from the Rioja region.

This wine comes from the Rioja (Ree-OH-ha) wine region of Spain. There are four classifications for Rioja wines; Rioja, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. The difference is predominantly the amount of aging before it reaches the shelves in your wine shop. To be classified as Crianza the wine must age a minimum of one year in oak and one year in the bottle. Thus, the earliest this wine was released would have been 2013.

Crianza is likely the most widely available and is usually reasonably priced (under $15) which makes this a great “weeknight” wine. On the nose, dark fruit, baking spice and hints of tobacco. I found this wine to be fruit forward and well balanced with a nice amount of acidity. I loved the subtle smoke that lingered on the palate after the finish.

Pair with Chipotle Chili Sloppy Joes or Lasagna. Click the links below to print or save the recipes.

Chipotle Chili Sloppy Joes

Lasagna

                        

Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza (2011) Wine Review

Tempranillo. It’s a varietal I’m growing increasingly fond of. Since moving to AZ  I’ve sampled Tempranillo from the Sonoita wine trail and have been delightfully impressed – more on that later. This week however, for our Wine Wednesday feature, we go to the native land of Tempranillo – Spain! The 2011 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza is from the Rioja region.  Crianza on the label is an indication of how long the wine has been aged. Spanish wines can be labeled Crianza, Reserva and Grand Reserva, Crianza being the youngest of them in terms of aging. Crianza red wines must be aged for a minimum of two years with at least one year in Oak and one year in the bottle.  

This wine is a blend of predominantly Tempranillo (85%) along with 10% Garnacha Tinta (Grenache) and 5% Graciano. On the nose -  notes of raspberry, strawberry and licorice and after a few sips - on your palate (roof of the mouth) – hints of chocolate and subtle coffee.  I found it to be a full bodied sturdy wine with ample fruit and acidity with moderate tannins - great for food pairing. We enjoyed it one night with a grilled ribeye and even more the next night with pizza.  Even better, priced as a “weekday wine”, it took the doctored up frozen pizza to another level. It seemed to love the tomato sauce on the pizza. Try also with my New Orleans style “red” Jambalaya or my Homemade Marinara. Be sure to open the wine 30 minutes prior to serving for the best experience. Click the links below to print or save the recipes. 

Jambalaya

Homemade Marinara