One the nose, cardamon, and lavender play with a nub of burnt vanilla, following a sweet hit of black fruit. The palate is exactly what a Crianza should be: balanced but exuberant. There are deep dark fruit flavors, chewy tannins and floral notes, and a finish that brightens into fresh strawberries and iron.
Bodegas Dios Ares is located in the Rioja Alta region, in the town of Laguardia. Having spent time working with the Wine School in that town, I must confess I have never heard of this winery before tasting it. It seems to be a relatively new company that primarily distributes its wine overseas and to hotels.
About Rioja Alta
Via Wikipedia. Logroño and Haro, the principal towns of Rioja, are both in theRioja Alta. Logroño is a huge town by Spanish standards. Still, at the western edge of the region, Haro is an enclosed hilltop community and a much smaller, far more charming, older, and traditional place. The area’s wine is Rioja’s fullest in fruit and concentration and can be velvety smooth. Bodegas Mugamakes fine examples of pure Rioja Alta, as do CVNE (CompañíaVinícola del Norte de España)—in the form of their Imperialline—in nine years out of every ten. More Spanish wine reviews are here.