2011 Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva

2011 Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva

2011 Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva A complex, elegant expression of premium Rioja vines, this finely balanced and uniquely fruity Gran Reserva packs smoky nuances into a modern classic.

Ruby red color, deep and vibrant. Complex nose. It retains extraordinarily well the black fruit aromas of blackberries, blueberries, and plums. Gradually it opens up to reveal smoky, toasted wood nuances, with spices and hints of minerals and tobacco. On the palate is smooth with soft and velvety tannins, great palate weight, extraordinary balance acidity. Elegant and complex aftertaste, with hints of coffee, chocolate, tobacco and dark fruit.

Delicious with red meat, grills and roasts, game, mature and blue cheeses. Great with: Lamb stew with chestnuts sauce

Red wine

Red wine has been prevalent since prehistory (the period before written records) as winemaking originated and spread throughout the world. In this case, “red blend” refers to any red wine that contains more than one red grape variety in the final product, though certain red blends can have their own designation as varietal wines despite comprising multiple grapes. For much of the history of European wine, red blends were in fact more common than single varietals, as winemaking was typically region-centric and featured grapes consolidated from vineyards across a given area. One famous example of this practice is the Bordeaux blend, which originated in the 18th or 19th century and usually comprises Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Though prominent red blends such as Bordeaux still remain popular, many red blends have been associated with lower quality due to the assumption that the term indicates cheaper table wines. However, many high-quality wine producers still elect to produce red blends, and these wines can in fact offer many unique and delicious flavors due to the winery’s ability to custom design the profile of their product.”