Miguel Merino Vinas Jovenes Rioja 2020

The more modern Crianza (sold as generic) 2020 Viñas Jóvenes (young vines in Spanish) was produced with grapes from vines planted 2001, three different plots, with 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. It's juicy and expressive with pungent aromatics of licorice and herbs, very clean. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and matured in well-seasoned, neutral barrels for 12 months.16,000 bottles produced, almost one-fourth of their total production. It was bottled in May 2022, five days before I tasted it, but the wine felt quite harmonious.