Score: 90/100
This Rioja Reserva wine is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo.
It was fermented in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature around 28ºC.
The maceration on skins lasted for approximately 20 days before the red wine was aged for 18 months in American and French oak casks (50% of each).
A further 18-month aging in the bottle took place in the winery’s cellar before release.
More perspective on this wine with a later review article published in January 2017: 2012 Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva rating & review.
So how good is 2012 Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva?
Tasting Notes
This Rioja Reserva comes in a dark red color, with solid intensity.
The nose is dominated by fresh red fruit aromas, oaky notes, and spices.
Red cherry, raspberry, and blackberry are the main fruity aromas, complemented by vanilla and toasted hazelnut from obvious oaky notes, and clove and peppery tones.
It smells complex yet very young, and somehow surprisingly youthful for a Reserva. I guess it’s only a relatively young 4-year-old Rioja of a wine!
Herbal notes of eucalyptus also join a touch of earthiness on the background. So there are a few different elements in there to smell, a solid aromatic complexity!
The palate has a relatively dense but smooth tannic structure, well balanced by a nice acidity. It also feels quite youthful although there is plenty of secondary flavors from the oak aging: vanilla and spices leading.
Fresh red berry fruit flavors give a sensation of freshness well underlined and amplified by the good acidity.
Mid-length finish on sweet spices and toasted notes of cocoa, a little smoke, and wood ashes.
Overall
A rather juicy and meaty Tempranillo Reserva delivering salivating fresh and ripe red fruit goodness mixed with the complexity and depth from a long oak aging.
Well-made and balanced, this is right now still a little too young of a wine for complete enjoyment. Allow it to mature and develop for a few years for further depth, and to round up its slightly dry finish for a more complete and refined experience.
Drink between 2020 and 2025.
Enjoy 🙂
Please let me know your thoughts