Bodegas Ontañón Rioja Crianza 2020

Raquel, Rubén and María Pérez Cuevas are part of the fifth generation of the Pérez Cuevas family to carry on the tradition of grape growing in the southern part of Rioja. Their father, Gabriel, inherited a portion of his family's vineyard in the early 1980s, Gabriel began making wine from these vineyards rather than selling the fruit as his ancestors had.

He was determined to produce wines that embodied the region of Quel, where his family had deep roots and where he believed the highest quality wines from Rioja were produced. He began to sell his wines, then labeled as “Arteso”, in the local area and later throughout Spain. As sales continued to increase, Gabriel purchased more vineyard land in his native region. 

During his father’s and grandfather’s time, Quel was the center of quality wine from Rioja. All of the original “wineries” were dug out of the rock faces that encircled the town and consisted of hollowed-out clay fermentation vats with chimney-like chutes dug straight through to the top of the cliffs. The grapes were delivered in old comportillo (grape baskets), carried down the mountain slopes from the vineyards via mules.

This tradition primarily evolved as a practical measure so that neither the winemakers nor their pack animals had to carry the year’s harvest up the back-breakingly steep cliffs, but it also mirrored early gravity-flow systems. Of course, in that age there were no barrels and no extensive winemaking regulations as there are now in the D. O. Ca. of Rioja, but the fruit from this part of Rioja was known to be among the best of the Rioja region.

The 40-year-old vines that are used for the Ontañón Crianza grow on the slopes of the Sierra Yergas, just south of the River Ebro in Rioja Baja. The grapes need the warm summer days to ripen to full maturity, but also the cold nights to increase acidity levels. The wines of this mountainous región of Rioja are known for showcasing crisp acidity as well as an elegant, yet full and dense fruit profile, with notes of mineral and herbal extract from the unique native soil.

The wine expresses subtle aromas of black cherry with overtones of spice and offers voluptuous fruit, with a delicate framework of natural acidity that opens up and deepens over time. The wine pairs well with roast chicken, game and meat.

	Spain, Rioja		13%
	Cork		In the next 4 years
	Chicken, Lamb, Red Meat		75cl
	Tempranillo, Grenache