Bodegas Sierra Cantabria Rioja Crianza 2006

RP: 90 Points ST: 90 Points WE: 90 Points WS: 87 Points

The 2006 Sierra Cantabria Crianza was sourced from 3 vineyard sites and aged for 15 months in seasoned American oak before bottling without filtration. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a pleasing perfume of wood smoke, pencil lead, spice box, violets, and blackberry. On the palate it leans toward elegance with a silky texture, some finesse, and succulent flavors. This balanced Rioja will evolve for 1-2 years and offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2021. (100% tempranillo) Bright ruby. Mineral-driven aromas of cherry, coffee, mocha, game, sassafras and oak. The bitter cherry, tar and herbal flavors show a juicy quality and are nicely framed by dusty tannins. Finishes with very good freshness and a strong echo of musky herbs and graphite. This will be even better for two or three years of bottle aging. Like almost all wines from this label, the welcome mat is rolled out. The nose shows textbook tea, herb, black cherry and leathery notes, while the palate is round, pure in feel, and full, with sous bois, light oak and dark fruit flavors. Long and persistent on the finish. A wine that gets it right. M.S. Black cherry fruit is ripe and sweet in this fresh, medium-bodied red, backed by modest tannins and lively acidity. Features tobacco, vanilla and spice accents. Drink now through 2012. 2,000 cases imported. -TM

Made from a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano in the Rioja region of Spain, this spends a touch of time in oak casks which adds spice to the red berried fruit.