Cortijo Rioja Tinto 2019

Alcohol: 13.5%

Grape(s): 100% Tempranillo

Localization: Rioja, Spain

Tasting Notes: A pure, bright expression of estate fruit from one of the most authentic and humble local wineries in Rioja Alta. The emphasis is entirely on showcasing the unmistakable wild red berry flavors that define a good Rioja and avoiding the heavy-handed traditional oak elements that hide them.

The fresh, pure character of this wine makes this an extremely versatile wine to pair with food. This wine pairs well with white meats like pork and chicken and flaky fish like hake, cod or flounder. This has the fruit and acidity to match with red meats.

The Domain: Cortijo Tinto is a bright, fresh red wine produced by David Sampedro in the Rioja DOCa. Rioja is Spain’s most prestigious region and for younger or neophyte wine drinkers who want to learn more about this magical, storybook wine region, its grapes and its wines, there’s no better an introduction than Cortijo Tinto. Cortijo means ‘cottage’ or ‘shack,’ a reference by the emerging young winemaker David Sampedro that his shack makes better wine than most high-flown Chateaux in Rioja. David improves the quality of his wines by doing better work in his vineyards, the place where the grapes come from. David says, "If you want to make better wine, harvest better grapes." Rather than build a chateau or a beautiful tasting room, he’d rather pay to take care of the only meaningful ingredient, the grapes. Beginning with the 2009 vintage, Cortijo is made with estate grapes. The goal is to show a naked, unadorned expression of Tempranillo and Garnacha from Rioja Alta with no interference of oak. Cortijo is a sort of “non-profit organization” for David as opposed to most of his other wines, which are super-premium cuvées that collectors kill for. Cortijo is David's way of introducing people to great wine from Rioja at a value price.