We happened to have three red Rioja wines with different ageing requirement so did blind tasting to see if we could tell the difference.
Cune Rioja Crianza 2016
Crianza is aged for minimum 2 years with at least 1 year in oak.
Aromas of ripe strawberry, cherry, caramelized plum, fennel and coffee beans.
Tannin is high and ripe, and balanced with fruits.
Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2014
Reserva is aged for 3 years with minimum 1 year in oak.
Sour cherry, red cherry, hay. Fine-grained tannin is well integrated.
The wine was smooth and enjoyable.
Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva 2011
Gran Reserva is aged for 5 years with minimum 2 years in oak and 2 years in bottle.
Red and black cherry, plum, salami, dark chocolate and coffee beans.
Texture is creamy.
The aromas showed complexity of fresh fruit, savoriness and oak.
Red and black cherry, plum, salami, dark chocolate and coffee beans.
Texture is creamy.
The aromas showed complexity of fresh fruit, savoriness and oak.
It was hard ... I couldn't tell the difference.
Judging from the length of ageing, I expected Crianza to be fresher and Gran Reserva would indicate fruit development.
However, Crianza displayed some fruit development and Gran Reserva still retained freshness. Interesting.
Judging from the length of ageing, I expected Crianza to be fresher and Gran Reserva would indicate fruit development.
However, Crianza displayed some fruit development and Gran Reserva still retained freshness. Interesting.
Then we compared these wines with seafood Paella.
Crianza was great with seafood.
Chorizo and Reserva were good pairing.
With Paella itself, Gran Reserva was the best.
Chorizo and Reserva were good pairing.
With Paella itself, Gran Reserva was the best.
