Variety in Rioja

What’s best in Rioja: a blend of Tempranillo with Garnacha and possibly a little Graciano or Mazuelo or single varietal wines made from Tempranillo or Garnacha or Graciano, or even Maturana Tinta? That’s what this small tasting was designed to investigate but I’m very happy to say that it isn’t that simple. If there were an easy formula, we would be deprived of so many nuanced and characterful wines from this big and successful region where there is already a sea of potentially dull, soft red wine – or so it appears from what is widely available on the UK...