As much as I love the Muga El Anden Crianza, I like this even more, and it's substantially less expensive. A masterful bottle of Rioja that I would swear was a Reserva, it offers incredible nuance, refinement, and class.
From the first sniff and first sip, this one straight up knocked my socks off. Tasting like a hypothetical "Remelluri meets Muga," this Crianza definitely drinks like a Reserva. It's got the fresh and ripe fruit of a more modern-styled Rioja combined with the spicy, earthy, savory notes of a more traditional version. I can't recommend this one highly enough.
2020 Marques de Tomares Rioja Crianza
"Elegant, seamless, and complex, this is one of the finest Rioja values I've ever tasted." - Josh Spurling - 95 points
When my sales rep Chris from Rise Over Run Wines said he had a Rioja that distinctly reminded him of Remelluri at half the price, I was intrigued. I told him to bring a bottle by for us to try, he did, we tasted it, and we all agreed that this was very reminiscent of Remelluri and Muga. We also told Chris that his price was way too low :)
Marques de Tomares represents the best of both "Rioja Worlds." There's a traditional style found here (spicy, savory, complex), but those more tertiary qualities are balanced by the ripe fruit typically encountered in a more modern Rioja. It all comes together beautifully in this absolutely stunning wine from a producer that I think deserves more attention.
Founded by Don Roman Montana in 1910, today it is run by his grandchildren. The family farms their 100+ acres organically (non-certified), they work with old vines (some over 100 years old), and all of their vineyards are located in the prized Rioja Alta zone. Their 2020 Crianza came in as a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano.
Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, fermentations are carried out with ambient yeasts, and the wine is aged for 12 months in French and American cooperage followed by 14 months in the bottle. This traditional, "hands-off" style of winemaking is risky, but when it works, it leads to fantastic wines.
Trust me, it worked wonderfully well for this 2020 Rioja Crianza. The aroma is one I associate with Riojas that typically run $50+. Dark cherry, warm plum, cigar box, leather, violet, and Asian spices lead the charge, and the palate is just as sublime. Ripe and silky, with just the right amount of tannin and acidity to balance the ripe fruit, it's a total joyride of a drinking experience.
In a nutshell, this one over-delivers with enough classic charm and Old World depth to satisfy traditional Rioja drinkers while also delivering plenty of ripeness and body to please modern Rioja drinkers. Sounds good right? It is, and I suspect it will be very well-received....that means don't wait too long to place your order :)
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