![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/P6080328-500x334.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I’ve recently been doing some tastings for my Sunday Express column, and I’ve been reminded how good and affordable some Rioja can be. Of course, as with any major wine region, not everything is good, but this seems to be a region that every now and then throws up really interesting wines with some maturity and real complexity, at very affordable prices. If you are on a budget, these are good options.<\/p>\n
Cepa Lebrel Rioja Reserva 2013 Spain<\/strong> Asda Extra Special El Mes\u00f3n Rioja Gran Reserva 2011 Spain<\/strong> Tesco Finest Vi\u00f1a del Cura Rioja Gran Reserva 2012 Spain<\/strong> Torres Altos Ib\u00e9ricos Parcelos de Graciano 2014 Rioja, Spain<\/strong> Ramon Bilbao El Viaje de Ram\u00f3n Reserva 2014 Rioja, Spain<\/strong> Cosme Palacio Vendemmia Seleccionada Rioja 2016 Spain<\/strong> I’ve recently been doing some tastings for my Sunday Express column, and I’ve been reminded how good and affordable some Rioja can be. Of course, as with any major wine…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116,40],"tags":[402,371],"class_list":["post-23721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rioja","category-spain","tag-rioja","tag-spain"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23721"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23726,"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23721\/revisions\/23726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n13.5% alcohol
\n\u00a35.79 Lidl
\nThis is a really good example of Rioja Reserva, with some nice savoury cedary notes from the wood and lovely crunchy, fresh cherry and berry fruits. Nicely structured, this is crying out for a fat ribeye steak. 88\/100<\/p>\n
\n14% alcohol
\n\u00a311.25 Asda
\nThis is a really serious effort. After a prolonged aging in oak barrels, it\u2019s dense, concentrated and mellow, with cedary, spicy, woody notes perfectly integrated with sweet blackberry and cherry fruit. Lovely stuff. 92\/100<\/p>\n
\n13.5% alcohol
\n\u00a311.50 Tesco
\nMade for Tesco by well known producer Baron de Ley, this Gran Reserva combines mellow oak character with supple, refined cherry and berry fruits, with some nice herb and spice complexity. 89\/100<\/p>\n
\n13.5% alcohol
\n\u00a313.95 Mumbles Fine Wines
\nA rare varietal Graciano. This has a lovely nose with floral raspberry and black cherry fruit with fine notes of cured meat. The palate is sleek and supple with lovely acidity supporting the bright but refined blackberry and black cherry fruit. Shows lovely fruit brightness, but also some brooding depth and appealing meatiness. Finishes with fine-grained structure and some oolong tea characters. 93\/100<\/p>\n
\n13.5% alcohol
\n\u00a37 Co-op for 50 cl
\nShowing lovely concentration of ripe blackberry and cherry fruit, with some\u00a0 warm spicy vanilla and cedar oak notes, this is a substantial, full flavoured, yet quite traditional Rioja that comes packaged in a handy 50 cl bottle (two-thirds normal size). Lots of personality here. 90\/100<\/p>\n
\n14% alcohol
\nSainsbury\u2019s \u00a310
\nSupple and bright, this wine has appealing floral cherry and plum fruit, and in the mouth it\u2019s really attractive with pepper and herb layers mixed with lush berry fruits. Satisfying, well balanced and more-ish. 91\/100<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"