Sarah Jane Evans MW, Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW and Pierre Mansour tasted 53 wines with 23 Highly recommended.
Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting scores
53 wines tasted
Exceptional 0
Outstanding 0
Highly recommended 23
Recommended 28
Commended 2
Fair 0
Poor 0
Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit red wines classified as Rioja crianza available in either the UK or the US market priced £15/$15 upwards. A maximum of two different wines per producer were allowed.
Crianza is one of Rioja’s classic categories, successful because it is easy to understand. Basically, it is a wine that has been aged (crianza = ageing, nurturing) in oak. As it is made in Rioja, the oak comes in 225-litre barrels, most likely American or French. The wine must be aged for two years: reds for a minimum of one year in barrel and the rest in bottle, and white or rosado wines for a minimum of six months in barrel and the remainder in bottle.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores from the Premium Rioja crianza panel tasting
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Rioja crianza panel tasting scores
{}
{"wineId":"79596","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79597","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79598","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79599","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79600","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79601","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79602","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79603","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79604","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79605","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79606","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79607","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79608","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79609","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79610","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79611","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79612","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79613","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79614","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79615","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79616","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79617","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"79618","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
The judges
Sarah Jane Evans MW is a Decanter contributing editor and Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards. Her latest book The Wines of Central and Southern Spain is set for release in early 2024.
Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW is a widely published wine journalist, educator and judge. He holds a degree in agronomical engineering and a Masters in viticulture and oenology, is a national expert for Spain at the OIV organisation and a DWWA joint Regional Chair for Spain.
Pierre Mansour is director of wine at The Wine Society, where he has worked for 23 years. Starting out with merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, he joined The Wine Society in 2000, moved into buying after four years and has been buying The Society’s Spanish wines since 2008.
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