2023 Corriente Rioja, Telmo Rodríguez

• Style: Fresh, fruit-driven red blend
• Taste: Ripe blackberry and cherry with dried herbs and white pepper
• Food: Roast dinners, stews, game, beef, lamb
• Occasion: Weeknight or Sunday lunch
• Serve: 14% ABV, serve cool

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

This wine rewards immediately with its deep cherry hue, a marker of the warm 2023 vintage. On the palate, expect ripe blackberry and cherry fruit brightened by dried-herb whispers and a subtle white-pepper note. Fine-grained tannins and a mineral undertone from the stony, calcareous soils prevent any heaviness, while the 14% ABV and crisp acidity sit in that sweet spot between approachable and seriously crafted.

The Winery — Telmo Rodríguez

Telmo Rodríguez is one of Spain's defining winemakers, spending three decades with partner Pablo Eguzkiza uncovering the nation's vinemaking heritage. Rather than imposing his hand, Rodríguez's philosophy centres on letting remarkable sites speak for themselves—seeking out forgotten zones, lost traditions, and nearly vanished grape varieties across Cebreros, Rioja, Rueda, Ribera, Galicia, Málaga and Alicante. Corriente is hand-picked from organic-certified estate grapes and fruit from traditional growers near Lanciego and Vinaspre, co-fermented with wild yeasts in cement tanks before 10–12 months in older oak. This blend of Garnacha, Graciano, and Tempranillo captures what Rioja achieves when clarity and terroir take priority over extraction.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

The freshness and structure of this wine cut through richness without fuss, making it equally at home alongside roasted chicken or manchego cheese as with chorizo or grilled duck. Its mineral backbone suits roast dinners, stews and braises, game and venison, beef and steak, and lamb beautifully. Corriente (meaning 'everyday') is anything but ordinary—a snapshot of a region with Atlantic influence and high-altitude vineyard sites delivering clarity. Whether you're exploring Grenache & Garnacha, building your Spain collection, or discovering Rioja at its most balanced, this is where to start.