Rioja is an amazing, Spanish wine region. Most of the wines are made from grapes sourced from multiple vineyards. (Rioja boasts 15,000 grape growers but only 640 wineries.) Carlos Moro established one of the newest wineries in 2014, where the tempranillo vines are as much as 80 years old. According to one retailer I trust (Vivino), “The Tempranillo grapes that go into Carlos Moro’s Oinoz Crianza 2016 are treated like rare gems: hand-harvested, double-sorted, and aging for 12 months in barrel and an additional 12 months in bottle before release. [Two years of aging before release is what earns a Spanish wine the designation “Crianza.”] With that kind of care, it’s no wonder this intensely aromatic Rioja is a Vivino EU top-seller! Now, we’ve got it in the US.” The wine is complex, elegant, and intense, showcasing intense red fruit. I got mine from Vivino for $16, with free shipping.
