Cerro Anon Rioja Reserva 2018

Cerro Anon Rioja Reserva, Bodegas Olarra, Rioja, Spain, 2018

Grapes: 85% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo & 10% Graciano, oak aged

At the time of release, this wine showed a bright crimson red colour. On the nose, aromas of sweet ripe fruit and delicate notes of smokiness. On the palate, tastes of cherry, plum and blackberries combined with gentle clean aromas of oak. Elegant mouthfeel, a full body and a fresh and fruity aftertaste. This wine still has plenty of life in it and should drink very well for the next 10-15 years.

"Deep ruby in the glass, this wine has a bouquet of black currant and blackberry with a touch of green bell pepper. Flavors of cassis, Chambord, bittersweet chocolate, clove and roasted fennel bulb are set into a web of velvet tannins that dissolve into a drawn out finish with note of orange zest."

92/100 points, Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast, September 2022

Also rated 92/100 by Tim Atkin MW, October 2022

Winemaking: Maceration time was 18 days with daily pumping over in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 30ºC Half of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation process in new 225-litre French and American oak casks, while the other half did their malolactic in concrete tanks.

Ageing: Barrel ageing was done in 225-litre oak casks, of which 65% were made of American wood (the rest being French Allier), and it lasted for 20 months with regular racking. The barrels where ageing took place were all from brand new to 7 years of age. Once fining and bottling were done, the wine remained in our bottle cellar for 18 months before we started to release it.

Drink with a lamb stew.