Altanza, Hacienda Valvares, Rioja

Medium body in a classic Rioja style, well-integrated oak, dry black fruit, very nice.

Ruby red with rich cherry and berry aromas and flavors, some oak and leather notes coming; medium bodied, smooth, soft, some tartness, acidity; clean finish.

I've long admired Bodegas Altanza for its dedication to producing wines of extraordinary balance, mixing the old and the new into a synthesis of great modern Rioja. The Valvarés lacks the subtlety and refinement of the Lealtanza line, and it pushes the boundaries further into a New World style with an unabashed emphasis on chocolate, vanilla, licorice, and cola, but it still fits well into the Altanza profile, just in a bolder way. The fruit is in the background, but …