Rioja Crianza 2020, Bodegas Sierra Cantabria

This wine greets you with a warm, expressive nose of red cherry, stewed plum, and dried fig, backed by sweet tobacco, crushed violets, and a gentle waft of cedar and vanilla from its oak aging. As it breathes, deeper notes of clove, leather, and a whisper of bay leaf emerge, hinting at the wine’s savory core.

On the palate, this Crianza is medium-bodied and finely textured, with flavors of black raspberry, red currant, and roasted espresso unfolding over a foundation of bright acidity and supple, well-integrated tannins. There’s a delicate interplay of spice and fruit—think cinnamon, anise, and a touch of dark chocolate—that lingers on a long, elegant finish. Structured yet approachable, it’s a Rioja that invites both contemplation and casual enjoyment.

Grapes are sourced from estate-owned vineyards around San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Labastida in Rioja Alavesa, nestled between the Sierra Cantabria Mountains and the Ebro River. The high-altitude sites enjoy excellent sun exposure and dramatic diurnal shifts, fostering slow ripening and balanced acidity. Soils are primarily calcareous clay with gravel and pebbles—ideal for Tempranillo’s deep root systems and expressive character.

About the Winery

Nestled at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria mountains, in the historic village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, this family-run estate has become one of the most respected names in Rioja. Founded in 1957 by Guillermo Eguren—but with family roots in the region dating back to 1870—Bodegas Sierra Cantabria is now helmed by brothers Marcos and Miguel Ángel Eguren, renowned for crafting wines that balance elegance, structure, and an unmistakable sense of place.

Their estate vineyards stretch across the hillsides between the Ebro River and the sheltering Sierra Cantabria range, where high altitudes and limestone-rich soils help produce Tempranillo of uncommon purity and finesse. Farming is organic in practice: no herbicides are used, cover crops are encouraged, and everything is harvested by hand and sorted with great care. Vines range in age from 25 to over 70 years, and the winemaking respects the fruit at every turn.

In the cellar, fermentation is carried out using native yeasts, and the Crianza is aged for 14 months in a thoughtful mix of used French and American oak. Gravity-flow vinification and minimal sulfur use reflect their philosophy: nurture the vineyard, guide the wine gently, and let Rioja’s identity shine through. From their everyday bottlings to their coveted single-vineyard wines, Sierra Cantabria represents Rioja at its most soulful and expressive.