Urbina Crianza Rioja 2015

Bodegas Urbina Crianza, Rioja, Spain, 2015

Grapes: Hand-picked, 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and Mazuelo from 20+ year old vines. Aged 12 months in American (95%) and French (5%) oak barrels with a minimum of 6 months in bottle before release.

Urbina is located in the town of Cuzcarrita del Rio Tiron in the Rioja Alta and the winemaking team is headed by Pedro Benito Urbina. A four generation family producer, Urbina has 75ha of vineyards mostly planted to Tempranillo. Bottling and ageing their own wines since 1975 the bodega has invested heavily in new equipment and now makes their wine with a more organic approach.

Ruby colour with garnet hues, mature, strawberry, vanilla nose. Balanced, creamy smooth, velvety texture of red berries, nuts, spice flavours, structured, long lasting, persistent aftertaste.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Unashamedly classic in style, this predominantly American oak-aged Tempranillo marries grapes from Urunuela and Cuzcurrita. Very much a cool climate style, it's savoury and refreshing, with pomegranate, tobacco leaf and coconut flavours. Ageing gracefully."

92/100 points, Tim Atkin MW, Special Report Rioja 2024

"Pretty traditional in style with a savory, reserved nose. Dry earth, baking spices, preserved plums, orange peel and iron. Juicy and firm on the palate, showing restrained flavors. It has slightly rustic tannins and is deceivingly light, but this is a Rioja I’d drink for a second glass. Delicious now with the development it delivers, but this will hold."

90/100 points, Zekun Shuai, JamesSuckling.com, June 2024

Drink with a Spanish pork stew, or fried & salted red peppers.