Review: 2019 Campo Viejo The Red Blend
Campo Viejo is one of the best-known wineries of Rioja, and this year it’s launching a new concept, a wine blended from three grapes — Tempranillo, Garnacha and Bobal — suitably known as The Red Blend. Let’s see how it fares.
Inky purple and completely opaque, this wine takes everything that’s beautiful about Rioja and buries it in the backyard. Blunt and obtuse, there’s no element of the rustic spiciness and bright fruit of tempranillo here. Instead it’s been replaced by an oppressive licorice and dark chocolate note, layered with damp, blown-out blackberry and currant notes. There’s an engaging tea leaf note that perks up after time in glass, but it’s fleeting, the finish ultimately falling back on a balsamic and heavily tannic character that’s rather overwhelming.
C+ / $20 / campoviejo.com
2019 Campo Viejo The Red Blend
$20
About Post Author
