Recently the LCBO release focused on Spanish reds. The most common of all the Spanish reds is of course Tempranillo. Another name is a Crianza. This one is dark in color with a mild nose of dark berries. On the mid pallet, without food the wine displays some lovely smooth rich dark berries. On the medium length finish the wine displays some lovely mocha notes, some nice dryness and some smooth tannins. It’s got some nice mouth grip lingering nicely! On it’s own this is a nice sipping wine. I paired it with smoked trout and it softened the wine nicely leaving a very food friendly wine. I would give it a solid 89. Yumm.
From the LCBO web site:
ARES CRIANZA 2009 VINTAGES 305912 | 750 mL bottle Price $ 17.95
Made in: Rioja, Spain By: Lcbo – Vintages Purchasing
Release Date: Jan 18, 2014
13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Style: Medium-bodied & Fruity Varietal: Tempranillo
Sugar Content: 5 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: XD – Extra Dry
Tasting Note
The 2009 Ares Crianza is a pure Tempranillo from vines grown on clay-limestone soils. Fermented in stainless steel, the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak. It has a stony palate with fine definition: notes of blackberry, sloe and licorice unfurling in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, chalky tannins. The wine is somewhat masculine for a Crianza, but because of that, it is imbued with individualism. It has fine edginess and constitutes a cerebral Crianza, rather than one that hands out pleasure on a plate. Drink now-2017. Score – 90. (Neal Martin, erobertparker.com, Aug. 2012)
