Tinto Crianza
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic Spanish tapas and cured meats, grilled lamb chops seasoned with rosemary, and medium-cured cheeses such as Manchego.
✨ Technical Specifications
Established in 1970 by Enrique Forner, Marqués de Cáceres revolutionized the Rioja wine scene by introducing progressive Bordeaux winemaking techniques to the historic region of Rioja Alta. Forner, who had spent years refining his craft in France at Châteaux Camensac and Larose-Trintaudon, challenged the traditional, heavily oxidized style of the era by championing temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation and a greater reliance on French oak barrels. The Tinto Crianza is the flagship bearer of this modern legacy. Sourced primarily from old, low-yielding bush vines in the clay-limestone soils of Cenicero, the wine is a classic blend dominated by Tempranillo, complemented by small portions of Garnacha Tinta and Graciano. It undergoes 12 months of aging in a combination of French and American oak barrels, followed by an additional year of refinement in the bottle, resulting in a vibrant expression defined by bright red berry fruit, subtle sweet spices, and silky tannins.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner in Cenicero within the Rioja Alta subregion, Marqués de Cáceres revolutionized Spanish winemaking by uniting centuries-old Riojan heritage with modern Bordeaux techniques guided by legendary enologist Émile Peynaud. Today directed by Enrique's daughter Cristina Forner, the family-run estate continues its commitment to terroir-driven viticulture and elegant French oak aging, expanding beyond Rioja into prestigious regions like Rías Baixas and Rueda. The bodega is internationally celebrated for its impeccably balanced Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva cuvées, modern prestige bottlings such as Gaudium and MC, as well as nuanced barrel-fermented whites like Antea.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo