The vineyards of Rioja in northern Spain yield a wide range of attractive wines. Oak aging is traditional here, and the Tempranillo grape marries well with the vanilla and spice tones imparted by the barrels. The 2010 Cerro Añón Rioja Reserva shows the beauty of the oak and wine marriage. Cherry and raspberry fruit aromas are enhanced by elements of forest floor dried leaves, lilac, cinnamon, vanilla and allspice. The rich fruit is beautifully expressed on the palate, with layers of cherry, blackberry and raspberry underlain by the leafy earth, vanilla and spice tones.
Bodegas Olarra, Rioja (Spain) 2010
By Wayne Belding