Bodegas Ramirez de la Piscina Crianza 2021

96 Points, Decanter

I tasted this last week and it’s exactly what great Rioja can be when done right. Medium to full-bodied, supple and beautifully balanced with a hint of vanilla oak on the nose alongside macerated cherry and lovely leathery notes that give it real character and depth. This is the kind of wine that just works – with food, without food, on a Tuesday night or at a dinner party. It’s a total ‘Swiss Army knife’ kind of wine.

Decanter gave it a stunning 96 points, calling it “full of appealing blueberry and gentle spice supported by smooth, velvety tannins, an elegant wine with real poise that still offers satisfying concentration.” Jeb Dunnuck called it “a well-made, dry, easygoing wine from a great vintage.” And Wine Enthusiast labeled it a “succulent Tempranillo” and a “crowd-pleasing Rioja.”