Ederra Crianza 2021

Bodegas Bilbainas makes Ederra Crianza in DOCa Rioja from a blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo. Tempranillo brings the structure, red fruit and ageing backbone, while Garnacha adds a riper, rounder berry character and a touch of warmth. Rioja's clay-limestone soils and its position between Atlantic and Mediterranean influences give the blend both freshness and ripeness, the cooler nights preserving the bright acidity and aromatic lift that mark the wine. Ageing runs to 12 months in American oak, the wood lending the vanilla, coconut and sweet-spice signature of traditional Rioja while a measured exchange of oxygen rounds the tannins. The wine is made to a vegan specification, fined without animal-derived agents. It pours a bright cherry red, with a nose of raspberry and red cherry over violet, liquorice and gentle oak spice. The palate is medium-bodied and supple, the red fruit framed by soft tannins and a vanilla-touched finish that stays fresh and savoury. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees. A versatile, easygoing match for roast and grilled meats.