In Ireland we drink more Rioja than anywhere in the world per capita. There are now essentially 2 Rioja, traditional, which favours big fruit and warm oak, with familiar terms like Crianza, then there is modern, with hipster labels and carbonic maceration and category defining wines. These are the former.
Starting of with the familiar Joven, Crianza and Reserva offerings (which refer to time spent in oak before release) before an unusual but totally delicious 100% Garnacha called Vanidosa, these are salt of the earth Rioja. Top of the pile though is the 'Tio Martin' Crianza. So good we included 2 here!
