“If you don’t know the wines of Vivanco, prepare to be impressed. They are not only eye-catching but also mouthwatering. This young, fresh red made with Rioja’s signature grape, Tempranillo, is juicy and spicy. Hearty enough to drink on still-cool nights, it can also be chilled to pair with balmy, warm-weather evenings. And, if you find yourself in the Spanish region of Rioja, a visit to Vivanco should be ob you list. With a world-class wine museum, it takes wine, art and history to a new level”

Intriguing aromas of toast, roasted strawberries, fresh fig, and apple orchard are all well balanced. Concentrated berry flavors, lemony herbs, and sea minerals start out fruity and finish earthy for fluid and full flavored sipping.

“This plump red has a sweet core of ripe cherry and plum fruit, with leafy, cedar, toast and vanilla accents. Bright, juicy acidity and light tannins give this focus. Lively and harmonious.”

Very pretty fruit with crushed berry and hints of cram in the nose that follow though. Medium body, integrated and fresh. A lemony undertone. Drink Now.

The generous red fills the mouth with berry, cherry and fresh herb flavors, accented by tea, spice and vanilla hints Light tannins and orange peel acidity give this a gentle structure. Harmonious and graceful.

A fresh nose of currants, black cherries and plums. Some cedary notes, too. Full body, concentrated, polished and juicy tannins a long, fresh and bloody-orange-like finish.

The 2012 Crianza, pure Tempranillo, fermented in oak vats and matured in barrique for 16 months, feels unusually classic in its profile of aromas, nicely developed and with contained ripeness. The medium-bodied palate felt like a great improvement over the 2011 that I tasted last time, with fine tannins and very good balance.

Black cherry, licorice and toast flavors mingle in this broad red. Light, firm tannins and moderate acidity impart structure, with a clean finish. Drink now through 2017.

This is a fresh wine with tomatoey acidity. Flavors of baked berry, plum and raisin blend with herbal notes, while the finish is long and tastes of vanilla and spice.

This plush red delivers plum and blackberry flavors, ripe and sweet, with vanilla and toasty notes. The light, firm tannins and juicy acidity keep this lively. Fruit-forward yet balanced, in the modern style. Drink now through 2019.

Sweet red Tempranillo fruit on the nose with traces of cinnamon and herbs. Quite concentrated and flavorful, albeit with pleasant and simple flavors.

Soft and silken, this is a Burgundian style of Rioja, a rich, earthy wine with musky funk to its cherry flavors. There’s tension in the acidity, the wine lasting on a spicy, rooty finish. An old-fashioned Rioja for braised meats.

The 2009 Crianza is pure Tempranillo from Briones grown on clay-rich soils and has the treatment of a superior wine. It ferments in oak vats and ages in a mixture of French and American oak barrels for 16 months with a further half year resting in bottle before being sold. It displays discrete aromas of red and black fruit, some leather, licorice, Chinese ink and smoke notes. The medium-bodied palate is clean, with fresh flavors of red currants and spices. Very drinkable. Drink 2014-2017.

Red berry aromas are earthy, herbal and tomatoey but not green. This feels fair and balanced, with tomato-like acids pushing flavors of red berries, plum and herbs. This finishes with traditional Rioja characteristics of herbs, spice and red fruits along with acidic scour.

This generous red offers ripe plum and chocolate flavors, with toast and tarry notes set on a plump frame. Delivers well-integrated tannins and a smoky finish. Drink now through 2017.

The 2008 Dinastia Vivanco Crianza is made from 100% Tempranillo and aged for 16 months in French and American oak. Balsam wood, tobacco, cinnamon, clove, violets, and black fruit aromas lead to a ripe, sweetly-fruited, nicely proportioned Crianza that is likely to blossom for another 1-2 years and drink well through 2020.

Velvety and voluptuous, this generous red delivers plum, blackberry, chocolate and toast flavors, with broad, soft tannins and just enough acidity to stay lively. This finish is graceful. Drink now through 2016.

Bright ruby-red. Cherry, raspberry and spicy oak aromas are complemented by pipe tobacco and rose. A sweet, sappy midweight that offers bright red berry flavors but betrays a slight dry edge in the mid-palate. Gently chewy tannins add grip to the brisk but somewhat hard-edged finish.

The 2007 Crianza is 100% Tempranillo aged in barrel for 16 months. Medium purple in color, it offers up notes of spice box, cedar, cinnamon, fresh herbs, and black cherry. Savory on the palate with some elegance, it can be enjoyed over the next 6 years.