I found strong cured meat, leather and licorice aromas in the 2014 Crianza, with hints of tempera paint and a straightforward palate with some drying texture. 460,000 bottles produced.

The 2012 Crianza shows quite ripe fruit and an agreeable palate, quite straightforward and simple, a little too ripe for my taste. 480,000 bottles.

The 2011 Crianza is classical, as you could expect, with a well-defined nose mixing strawberries and spices plus a nicely balanced hint of fresh fennel/licorice. The palate is soft and approachable with good acidity and fine tannins making it easy to drink. 480,000 bottles produced.

A smooth texture carries the cherry, dried berry, vanilla and light herbal flavors in this gentle red. Features lively acidity and just enough tannins for grip. Drink now through 2020. 40,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add

The 2009 Crianza has a reductive character and should be decanted before drinking. It is quite light, with red fruit and a touch of spices, all its components in place, but lacking a bit of complexity. Enjoy with food. Drink 2014-2015. Martinez Lacuesta is one of the classical names from Haro, which was created in 1895 and now, 118 years later, is a one-million-bottle operation still run by the same family. Some stray bottles from (extremely) old vintages can be found in shops or restaurants and are well worth drinking (I’m thinking of a superb 1928 here). On top of their current (mostly) classical wines that are quite consistent if not terribly exciting, they also produce delicious vermouth, which after all is nothing but aromatized wine. Various American importers: Serendipity Wines (Texas), Dionysis Wines (Washington), Arborways Imports (Mass.) and Spanish Wine Collection (New York).