VINA REAL CRIANZA RED WINE RIOJA SPAIN 2019

The fruit-driven, ripe and heady 2019 Viña Real Crianza was produced with 90% Tempranillo and the rest between Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano from a vineyard in the Sonsierra zone (call it Rioja Alavesa if you like). It has 13.75% alcohol and a pH of 3.6 and is polished and easy to understand and like. It has plenty of tannins; it calls for food. The oak is soft and integrated. They produced 650,000 bottles of this wine, which is bottled in four different lots. (Luis Gutiérrez)