Paco García Crianza 2022

Paco García Crianza is a Rioja red from Bodegas Paco García, a family winery in Murillo del Río Leza run since 2008 by Juan Bautista García and his wife Ana. The fruit comes from three of their own manually harvested vineyards, blending Tempranillo with a little Garnacha. Rioja's altitude and continental climate give long, even ripening with warm days and cold nights, and the clay-limestone soils lend the wine its balance of red fruit, acidity and structure. The grapes ferment in stainless steel tanks to keep the fruit clean and bright before twelve months of ageing in 225 litre French oak barrels, the Crianza standard. Slow oxygen exchange through the staves softens the tannins and weaves in spice, vanilla and a faint cedar, while malolactic fermentation rounds the texture. The fruity character stays in front, supported rather than buried by the oak. The wine is bright, deep ruby, with a nose of cranberry, sour cherry and red plum over vanilla, clove and a touch of tobacco. The palate is medium bodied, fresh and savoury, with supple tannin and a clean, spiced finish. Serve at 16 degrees. It suits roast lamb, grilled meats and Spanish cheeses.