Viña Otano, Rioja DOC Reserva (Spain) 2015

 This is very well made Rioja Reserva that shows the generosity of a warm year but still manages to display regional typicity.  There’s enough oak in the mix to require some aeration, but the wine shows quite well after an hour, and beautifully after two.  In terms of weight, it is really just medium-bodied, but it is fully flavored when the spicy, toasty oak joins forces with the fruit’s impact on the palate.  The oak pulls up short of the fruit in the finish, which is exactly what makes the wine so enjoyable, whereas lots of renditions of Rioja Reserva suffer from astringent finishes with wood tannin killing the sweetness of the fruit.  The blend is 85% Tempranillo 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo.  With time to loosen up, the overall impression is soft and invitingly deep and plush on the palate, and there’s no doubt this excellent now but looking at 5 to 7 very promising years ahead.