As I have said I am newish to the wine trade and am learning about the world of wine, champagne and spirits and I have to say, I am enjoying every minute of it! I recently went to a store and completed a comparison tasting of Rioja’s, between a Crianza and a Reserva, and there was a definite difference!
The wines in question are Marqués de Cáceres - Rioja Crianza 2005, and Bodegas Remelluri - Rioja Reserva 2003.
Taking the Marqués de Cáceres - Rioja Crianza 2005 first this had a youthful to developing nose with fruits such as Raspberry, Cherry and a Sweet Spice flavour. These flavours can also be tasted on the palate along with Strawberries and Vanilla, and leave the drinker with a well balanced wine with a medium length. This wine can either be drunk now or aged for a few years as there are plenty of primary fruits still left both on the nose and palate. Personally I would pair this wine with a Roast Lamb dish where the meat is cooked to perfection and slowly slides from the bone.
The Bodegas Remelluri - Rioja Reserva 2003 has something different altogether. Upon opening this bottle you can smell that this has been aged and you can smell the Jammy and Bramble characteristics along with the secondary wet leaves smell. On the palate Blackcurrant jam with Cooked fruits and again Bramble fruits can be found along with a cinnamon and oaky taste. This wine stays in your mouth for a long time, not a bad thing at all! I would say this could be aged for a little longer but is great to drink now and would go beautifully with a Steak Diane style dish.
Although I enjoyed both wines, the Bodegas Remelluri - Rioja Reserva 2003 left me wanting more, and therefore was the winner. I prefer a big, full bodied red that “gives it some” and this wine does that without being too overpowering. With the price of this bottle settling at around the £20 mark, this is not going to be a drink every day wine for many, but push the boat out for a special occasion and you won’t be disappointed! Both can be purcahsed through Majestic Wine