LCBO Sale Wine of the Week: December 13

Torres 2014 Altos Ibericos Crianza Rioja (Spain)

Sale $12.95, Regular $14.95
Discount (until December 31): $2.00
LCBO #527291 | 750 mL bottle

Tastes like: Typical Rioja: cherry-cran, earth and leather, a touch of smoke. Fresh fruit, medium tannins, warming.
Pairs with: Hard cheeses, roast lamb or stew, beef empanadas, charcuterie, burgers and pizza.
Good for: Holiday party drop-ins: heck, at this price you can bring two bottles!
Alcohol: 13.5%
Drink: Now through 2018.

Why we're drinking this
We love Rioja. We’ve said it and we’ll say it again: Wines from this region in northern Spain are tremendous value and pretty much any one of them at the LCBO is a good to very good wine. The grape is Tempranillo, with a well-balanced fruity flavour profile that responds well to oak aging. This wine by Torres is made in the Crianza style, which dictates that the wine be aged for one year in oak barrel and then one year in bottle before it is released. (Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are aged longer.) Crianzas are usually fruit-forward, as most of the oak has been previously used. They have a bit of a tannic edge and are medium-full bodied. These wines make great everyday drinkers, as they are versatile with food and delicious on their own. No need to break out the fancy crystal.

Tasting note
This is a nice, clean and fruity wine. It’s easy to like, with pretty cherry-cran notes and almost a Merlot-like softness, but with a kick. Typical of Riojas, there’s a nice tannic edge and certain wildness that comes across as savoury and smoky. It’s a lovely sensation. Nice wine for sipping and good with all kinds of food; whatever you like really. If all wines under $15 were this good, we’d be living in a glorious world!

Find it at your LCBO
Check availability on the LCBO website!

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