Viña Real Crianza 2021

Excellent, benchmark-quality Rioja crianza that shows the spicy side of the vintage. Peppery, juicy and bright, with a medium body and a nice chew of fine-grained tannins. Quite long. A smart buy. Drink or hold.

The 2021 Viña Real Crianza was produced with 90% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano from Rioja Alavesa. It matured in French and American oak barrels for 13 to 14 months. It has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and is polished and easy to understand. All the younger reds have some common aromatic notes reminiscent of honey and beeswax, aromatic herbs and berries. It has abundant, fine-grained tannins. 650,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2024. (Luis Guitérrez)

Intense and fragrant, with notes of red berries, violets, sweet spices and cedar wood. Dry and savoury style, polished tannins. (Decanter World Wine Awards)

Showing grapes from the Rioja Alavesa, this very well-priced Crianza is a partnership of Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Textured, perfumed and red- fruited, it's an easy-going cuvée with patisserie oak spices and supple, caressing tannins. 2024-28.