Rioja, Spain
Nose: Juicy red cherry, Red raspberry, Vanilla.
Palate: Red raspberry, red cherry, currant, plum, moss, bark, and a touch of clove.
Color: Medium garnet, with a touch of brick color nearing the edge.
Grapes: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano
Aged: American oak for 12 months, then bottle aged 6 months before release.
This wine is a touch of "New-World" fruit with "Old-World" finesse and acidity. You can be sure this wine is an all around crowd pleaser with nice clean fruit on the front of the palate and slightly rustic savory notes, which finish with nice lingering tannins. The acidity is bright and still very fresh tasting for this 2010 crianza. Don't be afraid to bring this crianza to a party, because everyone who likes red wine will enjoy this.
Bodegas Burgo Viejo is a fairly large producer in the Rioja Baja, a hot and dry region know for producing very ripe grapes. The estate boasts nearly 500 acres of vineyards, most of which is dedicated to the Tempranillo grape, but also include lesser amounts of Graciano, Garnacha, Carignan and Viura. But back to the wine itself...
The ripe red cherry and raspberry notes are quite pleasant, not overly rich or stewed, rather pronounced and integrated with the notes of currant, plum, and bark. The acidity is bright from beginning to end and at times a little bracing, but this characteristic would match well with some sharp cheese or braised meat. The tannins are present and distinct, but not aggressive or overly astringent, which allows this wine to be approachable for most people.
Although I personally prefer a more "Old-World" style of wine, I find Burgo Viejo Crianza to be a nice, approachable wine with something for everyone. I could see this being a go-to wine for most, there's enough layers of fruit and savory notes to enjoy, especially when considering the cost. Price to quality wise, I would give this wine an A-, because the fruit, acidity and tannins are all in balance with each other, there are no prominent faults in the wine, and it wouldn't over power most foods.
This wine is ready to drink now; it will become more savory with a little age, but the tannins will definitely drop out within 3-5 years and you might be left with an undesirable, acidic wine. At this price, you should just enjoy it from now until 2016.
Galen's Score: 89 points
Retail Cost: $13
Distributed by: Mariner Beverages
