Ramón Bilbao, Rioja Reserva (Spain) 2016

 I have always appreciated the historic relationship between Rioja and Bordeaux and the fact that the Tempranillo-based wines, especially the aged ones, can remind us of Bordeaux – at least traditional-style Bordeaux.  As a lover of well-integrated oak flavors in red wines, I’ve often leaned toward those from Rioja because of the long aging before release and because similarly priced Bordeaux, especially from the Left Bank, often don’t have the fruit to balance the oak that the Spanish wines do.  This Ramón Bilbao is a case in point: Dark, full-bodied cherry flavors, well-structured and full-bodied without being lush, followed by a lean, sinewy finishing.  And, of course, those delicious oak accents.