Valserrano Crianza 2020

Valserrano is made by Viñedos y Bodegas de la Marquesa, a family estate in Villabuena dating to the second half of the nineteenth century and now in its fourth and fifth generations. The Crianza blends Tempranillo with Mazuela from Rioja Alavesa, where a Mediterranean climate is moderated by the Cantabrian Sea and sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria, which blocks the cold northern winds. This temperate setting and the region's clay limestone soils give a wine with fruit and freshness in balance. It is aged eighteen months in French and American oak barrels, where the American oak in particular lends the coconut and sweet spice that mark classic Rioja, while slow oxygen exchange rounds the tannins. It is garnet red with ruby tints. The nose shows coconut, cinnamon and blackberry over warm spice. The palate is medium bodied and supple, with red and black fruit, a fine oak frame and a savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It is a natural match for roast lamb and grilled meats.