Description
Rioja is without a doubt Spain's best-known wine region. Its signature style is a smooth, vanilla-scented, oak-aged red - thanks in part to the winemakers of Bordeaux. It's an intriguing story.

Don Manuel Quintano is widely held to have introduced the barrel-ageing of reds to Rioja way back in 1787 following a fact-finding trip to Bordeaux.

But it wasn't until much later that barrel-ageing became commonplace in Rioja. As you may know, the vineyards of Bordeaux (and eventually, most of Europe) were ravaged by a root-eating louse called phylloxera in the 19th century. Many Bordeaux winemakers moved south to find work and in doing so, their long-established tradition of barrel-ageing became widespread in the Rioja region.

This is a luscious, gently-oaked Rioja made purely from Spain's best-known grape, Tempranillo. It's been expertly crafted by Manuel Ruiz Pedreira whose experience includes several vintages at Rioja's renowned Bodegas Faustino. The 2006 is a lovely, fruity wine.

Ageing for six months in American oak barrels has added notes of toasty vanilla and spice to its luscious red berry fruit.

International Wine Challenge 2008, United Kingdom