Even though October is #MerlotMe month, and I have plenty of Merlot being featured as quickies, Spain dominates the full reviews on the website this month. I started with Cune Rioja Crianza 2016, then René Barbier's Com Tu 2016, now I'm on Vińa Real Crianza 2016, and I'll finish up with Vińa Lanciano Rioja Reserva 2102.
The Viña Real brand was established in 1920 by CVNE (pronounced coo-nay) and also calls itself Cune, which was a label typo that stuck. Viña Real is out of the Rioja Alavesa region of Rioja, as opposed to CVNE's main label out of Rioja Alta. The name of the parent winery is actually an acronym that stands for Compañia Vinicola del Norte de España. It was founded in 1879 in Haro, Rioja and has been a leader in progressive winemaking and modernization since its inception.
The 2016 Crianza is 90% Tempranillo with the remaining 10% containing Garnacha and Mazeulo, all from the Rioja Alavesa region of Rioja. After being destemmed, the grapes are placed into stainless steel tanks to ferment as is for ten to twelve days. Once made into wine it's allowed malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, then aged in American oak barrels for thirteen to fourteen months while being racked every five to six months. The wine has a final ABV of 13.5%.
The 2016 Crianza is 90% Tempranillo with the remaining 10% containing Garnacha and Mazeulo, all from the Rioja Alavesa region of Rioja. After being destemmed, the grapes are placed into stainless steel tanks to ferment as is for ten to twelve days. Once made into wine it's allowed malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, then aged in American oak barrels for thirteen to fourteen months while being racked every five to six months. The wine has a final ABV of 13.5%.
The color of the wine is ruby red. On the nose there's aromas of big cherries and strawberries with old dried sweat, vanilla, and oak. On the palate it's light to medium bodied with a bit of a watery and flat mouthfeel, tight tannins, low acidity, hot ethanol, and an overall out of sync character. There's flavors of cherries and oak and a little bit of dark chocolate, but really it's just bleh like the 2013 vintage that I reviewed in 2017.
I don't want things to be bleh. I hate writing a bleh review. I hate it. Yet as much as CVNE is a wonderful winery and as beautiful of a label that they put on Viña Real... it's bleh.
I don't want things to be bleh. I hate writing a bleh review. I hate it. Yet as much as CVNE is a wonderful winery and as beautiful of a label that they put on Viña Real... it's bleh.
QUALITY VS PRICE RATING
Price: $16
Rating: 2/5 = Not Impressive (what does that mean?)
The bottle used was supplied free of charge for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
The bottle used was supplied free of charge for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
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