Ontanon Rioja Crianza, La Rioja, Spain, 2022

Grapes: A blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, sustainable farming, old vines, oak aged

Producer Tasting Notes:

Intense black fruit and warm spice on the nose. Good depth of flavour on the palate with ripe, plush fruit, balancing freshness and supple tannins. A very approachable yet classic Crianza, a wine which has earned its reputation for reliability whether you drink Rioja regularly or sparingly - this will always deliver the classic style you expect.

Winemaking: Produced from 40 year old vines grown on the slopes of the Sierra Yergas, around Quel, just south of the River Ebro in Rioja Baja. Predominantly Tempranillo grown in the La Montesa vineyard, blended with Garnacha from Siete Caminos. Following a long maceration period, the wine spends 12 months in 60% American and 40% French oak barrels (both used and new). This is followed by a further 12 months in bottle prior to release.

Estate: Bodegas Ontañón is a 5th generation family-owned and run winery in Rioja Baja (now Rioja Oriental). Here Raquel, Rubén and Maria Pérez Cuevas continue their father Gabriel's work to develop Bodegas Ontañón into one of the most highly-regarded wineries in Rioja. Ontañón has vast swathes of vineyard in this part of Rioja. Whilst wine production in the region is typically very dependent on contracts with grape growers, the Pérez Cuevas family has seen fit to invest heavily in the purchase of its own land and vines. Its 250ha is a testament to the importance it places on controlling grape quality. Many of their vineyards are actually planted at altitudes on a par with, or above, those in Rioja Alta and Alavesa. The hot and dry Mediterranean climate allows for consistent ripening of the grapes with little disease and this has enabled them to pursue organic production across 57 hectares of vines.

Food Match: This wine pairs well with roast chicken and game, meaty pasta and hard cheeses