Martínez Lacuesta Crianza Cuvée 2020 2020

Martínez Lacuesta is one of the old names of Haro, in the heart of Rioja Alta. Félix Martínez Lacuesta helped found the bodies that became the D.O.Ca. Rioja Consejo Regulador, and the house style remains classic and traditional. This Crianza is a Tempranillo grown on the clay and limestone soils that mark the cooler western reaches of Rioja, where altitude and a long, gentle ripening season preserve acidity and give the wine its medium body and freshness. After fermentation the wine is aged in French and American oak barrels, the slow ingress of oxygen through the wood softening the tannins and drawing out vanilla, cedar and the leather and tobacco character that defines mature Rioja. It pours a bright cherry red and opens with red berry and ripe cherry fruit, framed by vanilla, spice and a savoury, earthy edge. The palate is balanced and elegant, the tannins fine grained and the finish dry and persistent. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted briefly, with roast lamb, grilled beef or roast chicken and herbs.