Carravacas de Primicia Rioja 2016

Classic Rioja with all that moreish, silky, ripe berry fruit tempered by toasty spice. No wonder Spanish expert John Radford listed Primicia among his top 20 Rioja bodegas. It’s a family estate, founded by three brothers, and has over the years won many awards. This 2016 is made largely from strawberry scented Tempranillo, with a dash of velvety, perfumed Mazuelo adding depth and savoury notes. For extra complexity, winemaker Iker Madrid matured half the wine in new oak barrels for four months, allowing it to pick up hints of vanilla and toasty spice, while letting plenty of exuberant, youthful, fruit character shine through. A delight on its own, this wine is spot on with garlic chicken, lamb chops with rosemary or a selection of tapas.