# Letargo Crianza (2021)

- **Producer:** Bodegas D. Mateos
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano
- **Region:** Rioja, Spain
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €11
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 15–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, raspberry, vanilla, prune, leather, cinnamon

## About this wine

Bodegas D. Mateos is situated in Aldeanueva de Ebro within the Rioja Oriental sub-region. Although the winery facility was established in modern times, the Mateo Ruiz family holds a winemaking tradition spanning seven generations. The Letargo series represents a homage to traditional Rioja, crafted with a contemporary touch from family vineyards planted along the slopes of Monte Yerga and the Ebro Valley.

## Interesting facts

- The Mateo Ruiz family behind the estate brings seven generations of Rioja winemaking history.
- Vineyards sit between 300 and 800 meters elevation on the slopes of Monte Yerga in Rioja Oriental.
- Aged for a full year in a carefully calibrated blend of 70% French oak and 30% American oak barrels.

## Food pairing

This medium-plus bodied Rioja Crianza offers supple tannins, juicy fruit, and balanced acidity that slice through savory fats in grilled lamb, rich stews, and cured meats. The oak aging complements cured cheeses like Manchego without overpowering the food.

## Wine making process

The hand-harvested grapes are de-stemmed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with daily pump-overs. Malolactic fermentation is completed prior to oak aging. The wine is aged for 12 months in 225-liter oak barrels featuring a blend of 70% French and 30% American oak, undergoing natural barrel clarification with quarterly rackings before an additional 12 months of bottle maturation.