Crianza is a Rioja wine aged in an oak barrel for 6 months to a year. Red and white Crianzas are aged a bit differently: Red Crianza: At least one year in American oak barrels (or French oak barrels) and six months in the bottle. White Crianza: The oak aging in the cask lasts for at least six months.

On the palate, it is silky with a core of strawberry fruit combined with sweet spicy flavours from American oak. The finish is juicy and long. The grapes for this wine are sourced mainly from Rioja Alavesa (65%) with some from Rioja Alta (25%) and Rioja Baja (10%).

The goal of Crianza is a high-quality daily drinking wine. It's not too rich, but with Tempranillo's natural high tannin it has quite a bit more body than Merlot. It's like a great valued Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rioja can be a world-class wine. But it is widely considered by those in the know to be a 'bargain wine'. One that is great quality but not such high quality that you couldn't afford to pop open a bottle at the week.