Ramón Bilbao is one of the most historic wineries in La Rioja, but it has also embraced innovation, with its entry into the twenty-first century marked by a profound modernisation of its winemaking style without losing its essence. Discover it with Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2022, a versatile and balanced Tempranillo renowned for its good fruit load and freshness, matured for 14 months in American oak barrels.
Consumption features
Pairing
Its black fruit and hint of liquorice leave a luscious and clean sensation. Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2022 pairs very well with roast lamb, cold cuts, and mild cheeses. It also pairs confidently with some potatoes with chorizo or migas, because its balance and elegant tannins support flavourful dishes without losing freshness. If you prefer fish, try with grilled .
Service
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Type of barrel
Second and third use American oak barrels.
Type of bottle
Bordeaux
Barrel aging time
14 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Total acidity (g/l)
5.62
pH
3.49
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14.5
Making process
Winemaking
How to preserve the character of each plot and maintain the identity of the Tempranillo in a balanced and expressive wine? At the winery, Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2022 is produced with plot-by-plot vinification, so that each origin contributes its personality without losing precision. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in separate tanks, a decision that allows the profile of each batch to be preserved and the grapes to be worked with a finer reading of their fruit and structure.
Aging
Discover a maturation of 14 months in second and third use American oak barrels, following vinification by plots and alcoholic fermentation in separate tanks to preserve the character of each one; afterwards, the wine undergoes an additional bottle resting period before being released to the market.
Vineyard
Description
Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2022 is crafted with a focus on the purity of Tempranillo, sourced from the D.O.Ca. Rioja. Its profile aims to preserve the fruit character of the variety and enhance it with a 14-month crianza in second and third use American oak barrels, a combination that provides balance, freshness, and complexity without losing the varietal expression. The result is a wine designed for those seeking a harmonious red, with good fruit intensity and a polished mouthfeel.
Viticulture
Are you looking for a wine that expresses each plot with precision and without losing balance? Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2022 is produced from a manual harvest and a careful selection of grapes, worked by plots to preserve the character of each origin to the fullest extent. The available information does not specify organic, biodynamic, or specific sustainable cultivation; therefore, a traditional approach to viticulture with meticulous vineyard attention is appreciated. In this Tempranillo wine, the aim is to preserve the grape's identity and achieve a clean, ripe, and well-defined fruit profile.
Tasting notes
View
Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2022, vibrant ruby colour. Clear and bright, with a balanced and lively visual presence that reflects its fresh and fruity character.
Nose
The careful production of Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2022, with hand harvesting, parcel-by-parcel vinification, and 14 months of ageing in second- and third-use American oak barrels, results in a precise and well-defined nose, where ripe black fruit initially stands out along with hints of liquorice. It gradually gains complexity with dairy echoes, vanilla, cinnamon, and cumin, which add warmth and aromatic depth.
The overall profile is expressive, balanced, and finishes with a softly spiced nose.
Mouth
Enjoy a balanced and very well-defined palate, where the good fruity intensity integrates with a crisp acidity that brings freshness and vibrancy, while the elegant tannins round off the overall sensation with a fine and pleasant texture. Its profile is harmonious and expressive, with a precise taste experience and a persistent finish that leaves a clean and satisfying impression.
The winery
Founded in 1924 by Ramón Bilbao Murga himself, since 1999 Bodegas Ramón Bilbao has been part of Grupo Zamora, which is owned by the Restoy Zamora family. From its extensive experience, its position as a pioneering company in the “art” of barrel aging stands out. In its most recent phase, its spectacular growth (from producing 600,000 bottles to 3,000,000 bottles today) and the modernization plan for its facilities and wine styles are noteworthy, largely due to the acquisition of productive vineyards and the planting of new vines in Rioja.
Located in Haro, the heart of Rioja wine, Ramón Bilbao is one of the wineries with the most tradition and prestige in the Rioja Alta. Its long history, supported by its excellent fieldwork and the application of modern winemaking, places it among the benchmark brands of Rioja vineyards. Its winemaker, Rodolfo Bastida, played an active role in the renewal carried out in the 1990s to give Rioja wines greater fruit presence and concentration. Ramón Bilbao owns 180 hectares of its own vineyards and oversees an additional 818 hectares from regional growers.
In 2010, Ramón Bilbao expanded its reach to the D.O. Rueda to produce interesting Verdejos. With the 2016 vintage, they inaugurated their own winery in this region, the homeland of Verdejo, where they already have 60 hectares of vineyards.