Manuel Quintano, Rioja DOC (Spain) 2018

 Wine has been made in Rioja since 200 BCE, but production was largely suspended during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula.  With the re-emergence of the Spanish monarchy towards the end of the 15th century wine soon followed suit.  Brothers Manuel and Diego Quintano were pioneering Spanish viticulturists and winemakers in1783 when they focused on aging their wines (mostly Tempranillo) in barrels.  You’ll surely be glad of that once you taste today’s Manuel Quintano Tempranillo.  At 14.5% alcohol this is a big, voluptuous wine.  Expertly made, its fruit aromas and flavors suggest berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries).  The wine was aged in French oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months.