If you enjoy wines with the softness and round style that barrel and bottle maturation provides, you should definitely consider Rioja. Oak aging is traditional here, and the Tempranillo grape marries well with the vanilla and spice tones imparted by the barrels. Bodegas Olarra’s 2012 Cerro Añón Rioja Reserva shows the beauty of the oak and wine marriage. Cherry and raspberry fruit aromas are enhanced by elements of dried leaves, lilac, cinnamon, vanilla and allspice. The rich fruit is beautifully expressed on the palate, with layers of blackberry, raspberry and black cherry underlain by the leafy earth, vanilla and spice tones. Given the extended barrel and bottle age, it’s a superb value.
Bodegas Olarra, Rioja Reserva (Spain) 2012
By Wayne Belding