Posts Tagged ‘Rioja’

Campo Viejo, Crianza, Tempranillo, 2005, Rioja, Spain, $12.99

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
buy it here

buy it here

The oak on this one is a bit overwhelming when you first open it and its a little rough around the edges, so let it breath for an hour or two befor drinking or serving it. That being said, the noes is full of deep dark aromas like charcoal, super toasty oak and casis. Acompanied by subtle notes of black olives, dried prunes, and fresh raspberries, its reminicent of a wood burning stove. Its a little on the tannic side, but not necessarily in a bad way if you like that sort of thing. I think it works well with the rustic, charred sort of flavors, and theres just a nuance of blueberries, right befor its smokey oak finish. It would be great with a hearty beef stew, just throw a cup in while its cooking to add a whole new layer of flavor.