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Luis Canas Rioja Crianza
Bodegas Luis Canas
Spain - Rioja - Rioja

A classic style Rioja from one of the regions most enduring family run wineries.. The hillside terraced vineyards are sheltered by the Sierra Cantabria Mountains to the north from harsh weather extremes. Small plot production is utilized in this region of infertile chalky clay soil to produce clusters of excellent quality. Almost 900 plots are needed to complete the approximately 400 hectares of estate-owned or cellar-controlled vineyards, some with vines more than 100 years in age.

Tasting notes
Made from 95% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha of 30 years of age, the wine shows a ruby red color, a clean nose with nuances of balsamic, plum and cedar. The palate is smooth and velvety, complex and structured, with fruit, spice flavors with toasted oak. A pleasant finish with red fruits and hints of eucalyptus.

Specifications
Appellation
Rioja
Wine Type
Red
Varietal(s)
95% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha
Agricultural Practices
Sustainable
Vinification
Grapes are destemmed and crushed before undergoing fermentation. Maceration in stainless steel tanks for a total of 8 days, obtaining better color extraction as well as much more complex wines, suitable for prolonged aging. The wine is clarified with vegetable gelatins and follows anicrobic filtration. After its primary fermentation, the wine is placed in barrels where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for a minimum of 12 months (60% French; 40% American oak; 3 years old). It is further aged in bottle for 12+ months.
Pairings

It is ideal to pair with meats; red meat, poultry, small game, oily fish, semi-cured cheeses, spicy dishes and hot dishes such as beans or potatoes Rioja style.

Reviews and News

2021 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - JD

2021 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - JD

jeb dunnuck logo 250"Juicy Bing cherries, peppery herbs, leather, and cedarwood notes all emerge from the 2021 Rioja Crianza, a medium-bodied, concentrated, round, layered red that has supple tannins, beautiful fruit, and a great finish. This classic Rioja has tons to love."

- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 91 pts

2020 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - IWR

2020 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - IWR

i winereview logo"This is a modern style, Tempranillo led blend that includes Viura and Malvasia. Medium dark ruby in color, it reveals a fresh, bright nose. The medium weight, suave palate is bright and easy drinking with good concentration and length. Made from grapes 30 years of age on average, destemmed, and aged 12 months in French and American oak. 14.5% alc. - Don WINKLER"

- International Wine Review (Kysela Père et Fils Importer: 30 Years Importing High Quality, High Value Wines ; July 26th 2024), 91 pts

2018 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 93 PTS - WE

2018 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 93 PTS - WE

wine enthusiast 93 pts

"This deeply hued wine offers a bouquet of black cherry, raspberry, espresso bean and clove. There is a soft savory note of dried Mediterranean herbs alongside Chambord, cherry, baking-spice and ground-coffee flavors. Vigorous tannins coat the tongue and gums and drift away into a spicy finish. - Mike DeSimone

 - Wine Enthusiast (September 2023), 93 pts

2017 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 92 PTS - WE

2017 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 92 PTS - WE

wine enthusiast 92 pts

 "This deep-garnet-colored wine has aromas of black cherry, clove and Turkish delight. It is slightly spicy on the palate, with flavors of clove, anisette, blackberry, cherry, dark chocolate and black olives. Plush tannins dissolve into a lingering finish. - Mike DESIMONE"

 - Wine Enthusiast (February 2023), 92 pts

2017 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - JS

2017 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - JS

james suckling hq logo plain"A medium fruity red with cherry, berry and hints of cedar, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Light austerity at the end makes this interesting. Tempranillo and garnacha. Drink now."

- James Suckling (September 2021), 91 pts

2016 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 92 PTS - JS

2016 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 92 PTS - JS

james suckling hq logo plain"Black-cherry, floral and bark aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate with very integrated, fine tannins. Refined and very pretty. Just a hint of coffee at the end. Well done this year. Drink or hold."

- James Suckling (November 2020), 92 pts

2015 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 92 PTS - JD

2015 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 92 PTS - JD

jeb dunnuck logo 250"This estate turned out a brilliant 2015 Rioja Crianza, which is 95% Tempranillo and 5% Grenache that spent a year in a mix of French and American oak followed by a year in bottle. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and incredibly elegant, it has a terrific perfume of ripe cherries, cedarwood, and spice. It’s a complete, balanced, seamless 2015 that does everything right. It’s great today yet should cruise for a decade in good cellars."

- Jeb Dunnuck (March 2019), 92 pts

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2015 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91+ PTS - WA

2015 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91+ PTS - WA

wa91"The young and creamy 2015 Crianza is mostly Tempranillo with 5% Garnacha, matured in French and American oak barrels for 12 to 14 months. It's ripe with moderate acidity and lactic aromas intermixed with cherries and vanilla. The palate is soft with juicy fruit and lush tannins. A crowd-pleaser and a great vintage. Great value too. They produce one million bottles of this. - Luis Gutiérrez"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #235, February 2018), 91+ pts

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2015 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - VINOUS

2015 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"(raised for 20 months in a 50/50 mix of new French and American oak barrels) Deep, lurid ruby. Displays expansive, oak-spiced red/blue fruits, spicecake, vanilla and a sexy floral quality on the deeply perfumed nose. In a fruit-forward, seductive style, showing no rough edges and very good clarity to its sweet boysenberry and cherry flavors. The floral note comes back strong on a long, supple finish that betrays just a hint of fine-grained tannins. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2019), 91 pts

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2015 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - TA

2015 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - TA

tim atkin logo 250"Juan Luis Cañas sources the Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha grapes that go into this eminently reliable Crianza from a range of villages on the north bank of the River Ebro. Balanced, modern and appealing, with a well-judged combination of French and American oak and bright red berry fruit. 2020-25"
- TIM ATKIN RIOJA 2019 SPECIAL REPORT, February 2019, 91 pts

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2014 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - WA

2014 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - WA

wa91"The Crianza from Luis Cañas is always a textbook example of the category. The 2014 Crianza is no exception, with those sweet lactic aromas, cinnamon and vanilla intermixed with Fruit of the Forest notes. The palate is silky, smooth and supple, a champion in drinkability. It's remarkable that they produce 1.5 million bottles of this wine."

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #226, August 2016), 91 pts

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2014 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 90 PTS - JS

2014 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 90 PTS - JS

james suckling hq logo plain"Sweet black fruits and a nice freshness balance bold tannins. Drink now."

- James Suckling (July 2017), 90 pts

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2013 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - TOP 10 Rioja Crianza Wines - VINEPAIR

2013 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - TOP 10 Rioja Crianza Wines - VINEPAIR

vinepair logo web

- Vinepair (May 2017)

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2013 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - BRONZE MEDAL - TEXSOM

2013 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - BRONZE MEDAL - TEXSOM

texsom awardsTEXSOM International Wine Awards (March 2017), BRONZE MEDAL

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2013 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 90 PTS - VINOUS

2013 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 90 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"Vivid ruby. Lively red berry and floral scents and hints of vanilla and woodsmoke on the deeply perfumed nose. Fresh, spice-accented raspberry and cherry flavors are joined by a mocha element that gains strength as the wine opens up. The red fruit note repeats on a long, gently tannic finish that echoes the spicy note. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (May 2017), 90 pts

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2013 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 87 PTS - WA

2013 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 87 PTS - WA

wa"The 2013 Crianza (95% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha) exhibits plenty of black cherry and raspberry notes and graphite in addition to excellent ripeness, a dark ruby color and a savory, broad, lush mouth-style. Drink it over the next several years."

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (March 2016), 87 pts - Excellent Wine Values for Under $25

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2012 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - WA

2012 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - WA

wa91"The 2012 Crianza is quite classical, with minty/herbal notes of American oak and ripe berries. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and a pleasant, long finish. Year after year this is a reference in the Crianzas, and a very good value. - Luis Gutierrez"

- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 218, April 2015), 91 pts

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2012 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - VINOUS

2012 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 91 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo 250"Vivid ruby. Fragrant aromas of black raspberry, rose, mocha and star anise, with slow-building peppery notes. Red and dark berry preserve and floral pastille flavors gain energy and spiciness with air and show very good clarity. Vibrant and sharply focused, gentle tannins and bright finishing lift. In an elegant style and approachable now, especially with a little air. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2015), 91 pts

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2011 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 90 PTS - IWC

2011 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 90 PTS - IWC

tanzer iwc 90 pts"(95% tempranillo and 5% garnacha): Opaque ruby. High-pitched aromas of red berries and candied rose, with a peppery accent building in the glass. Zesty and sharply focused, offering nervy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors that gain sweetness and depth with air. In a bright, elegant, almost pinot-like style, finishing with very good clarity and light tannins. - Josh Raynolds"
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Sep/Oct 14), 90 pts

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2011 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 88 PTS - WE

2011 Luis Canas Rioja Crianza - 88 PTS - WE

wine enthusiast 88 pts
- Wine Enthusiast (May 2016), 88 pts

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Producer Information: Bodegas Luis Canas

Bodegas Luis Cañas is one of Rioja Alavesa’s oldest family-owned wineries. The history starts with Carlos Cañas, who sold his wines in bulk, transporting them by mule and cart throughout ...
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