Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results

Premium Rioja crianza

Sarah Jane Evans MW, Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW and Pierre Mansour tasted 53 wines with 23 Highly recommended.

Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting scores

53 wines tasted

Exceptional 0

Outstanding 0

Highly recommended 23

Recommended 28

Commended 2

Fair 0

Poor 0


Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit red wines classified as Rioja crianza available in either the UK or the US market priced £15/$15 upwards. A maximum of two different wines per producer were allowed. 


Crianza is one of Rioja’s classic categories, successful because it is easy to understand. Basically, it is a wine that has been aged (crianza = ageing, nurturing) in oak. As it is made in Rioja, the oak comes in 225-litre barrels, most likely American or French. The wine must be aged for two years: reds for a minimum of one year in barrel and the rest in bottle, and white or rosado wines for a minimum of six months in barrel and the remainder in bottle. 


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores from the Premium Rioja crianza panel tasting


Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results * Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results | | Premium Rioja crianza: Panel tasting results |