Just looking for some recommendations on good Tempranillos with low to no oak. Crianzas or less, and or bigger barrel aging. Ideally from Spain, but interested to try some from elsewhere as well. Thanks in advance.
The higher end La Rioja Alta wines use older more neutral oak and are released later to drink sooner. My favorite wines from Spain for the money.
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On the domestic side, try Enfield’s version.
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Some of the newer bodegas are making unoaked/less oaked bottlings. Artuke’s basic, Tolono, Pecina’s cosecha are all some examples. Not sure if they are 100% varietal pure tempranillo though.
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Look for Goyo Garcia from Ribera del Duero. Not sure of the specifics of his oak regimen but 2 I’ve had tasted like a lot of neutral oak.
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Are you talking about the Gran Reserva 904 or he 890? Depending on the year, those spend from three to ten years in barrels. The barrels are generally not first use, but they’re not exactly neutral. Those two wines are dead giveaways in blind tastings because of the overt oak.
I had this discussion with someone else. They use older oak barrels. Gran Reserva 904 "Selección Especial"
That may be true on how old the barrels are, but the time in oak gives off a very distinctive signature. Personally, I love it and use La Rioja Alta for classic blinds. But, if I’m reading the OP right, it sounds like he doesn’t want that flavor in his Tempranillo
Okay, but the wines are very oaky.
LdH’s Crianza never seems to have much oak influence and it’s a great value.
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Any Rioja more than a daily drinker will have oak, often a lot of it, even from the traditional houses. I would not try to make Tempranillo into something it isn’t and if you prefer less oak on your reds then I would look elsewhere.
Had the 2012 Ardanza literally 2 nights ago and the overwhelming sentiment was oooooak.
The Ardanza is not the higher level wine. And it can show VERY strong American oak.
I’ve really enjoyed the cosecha bottling here - Akutain Classic - Bodega Akutain
No oak
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for $14.99 at NYC pricing, this is really quite a nice little bottle.
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Already mentioned, but Sierra de Toloño is probably my favourite Rioja because it’s more red-fruited and there’s no overt oak.
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Bodegas Lanzaga (Telmo Rodriguez) LZ is mostly tempranillo, raised entirely in concrete.
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This.
LRA claims that their wines don’t see new oak, but all their wines - including 890 - are very oaky in their youth with overt American oak influence. Some 890s and 904s have lost their obvious oak tones around 25-35 years of age, but I’ve had Ardanzas from the 1970s that still pack quite a bit of vanilla and coconut.
But then there are LdH Riojas that can see up to 10 years of oak aging and show very little to none oak influence. Their normal process is to bottle-age the wines long enough so any oak flavors integrate and release them when they are ready, i.e. no obvious oak. Some vintages might show a bit of oak upon release, but most wines seem to have dropped any noticeable oak flavors after 3-7 years of additional aging.
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I am a big fan and have a bunch of these on hand as every day drinkers.
I’m a big fan of the 904 and the Ardanza. Have a few 890s, but haven’t tried any yet. Don’t think I have had the 904 old enough to not notice the oak though.