Conde Valdemar, Rioja Crianza 2019

The roots of Bodegas Valdemar go back to 1889 and its founder Joaquin Martínez Bujanda. It proudly remains an independent estate to this day, specialising purely in the things Rioja does best. They are committed to using 100% estate-grown fruit, and this has allowed Valdemar both to keep quality consistent and also to experiment in great detail with different sites and obscure grape varieties. Rioja Crianza 2019 is made from a blend of 82% Tempranillo, 11% Mazuelo (Carignan), 4% Graciano and 3% Viura. The grapes were harvested and spent 16 months in American oak prior to bottling. An intense nose of plum, blackberry, clove, vanilla and pepper leads to a rich palate with smooth tannins and good level of acidity to balance. A great wine to pair with grilled foods, but particularly ribs.