Spanish Tempranillo - something different

Antano Rioja Crianza Tempranillo is an interesting wine with ruby red aromas of ripe plum and cherry with notes of violets and has an upfront fruit with balanced a nice acidity and an elegant finish that lingers. This would be a great wine with cheeses and tastings.

The wine is made of 85% Temprannillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo, from Rioja Alta that is fermented in stainless steel and aged for 12 months in nuutral American and French oak.

Personally, at first, I really enjoyed this wine, but as it lingered  I liked it less and less.  I say try it for yourself and see what you think.  I think it goes well with food, but just to drink by itself, it doesn't hold up.

Here is a little information about the region in Spain where the wine orginiates. 

Bodegas Antano is located in the historic town of Briones, in the Rioja Alta sub-appellation of Rioja. The soil throughout Rioja is calcareous. Vines are naturally stressed in this type of soil, developing extensive root systems. Traditionally, vineyards in Rioja Alta were planted predominately with Tempranillo, a noble grape which the Spaniards regard as their finest red variety. This native grape is well suited to the region's subclimate, which is influenced by both the Atlantic and Mediterranean Oceans. Tempranillo is also blended with Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan) and the indigenous Graciano. Bodegas Antano honors tradition while using modern enological innovation to produce some of the most extraordinary values in Rioja today.