“Reserva” sounds like a better and more expensive wine. And in part it is, but the word isn’t about quality: it’s about time. Knowing what crianza, reserva and gran reserva mean helps you choose by what you like, not by the name.
Young (joven)
This is wine meant to be drunk early, with no time in barrel or only a very short spell. Fresh fruit stands out, and it is the lightest and most affordable style. Often it is the best choice for an ordinary day.
Young with oak
A young wine that has spent a few months in oak without reaching crianza. It adds a touch of wood and a little more body, without losing the fruit.
Crianza
Broadly speaking, for reds this means at least two years of ageing, of which at least six months in oak barrels. The fruit notes combine with vanilla, gentle spice and a rounder texture.
Reserva
Three years of ageing, at least one of them in barrel and the rest in the bottle. The wine is more complex, with softer tannins and aromas of ripe fruit, leather and wood.
Gran reserva
Five years of ageing, with at least eighteen months in barrel. These are usually wines from very good vintages, with a long structure and a calmer, more spiced style. They are not made every year.
Crianza, reserva and gran reserva: things to keep in mind
Aquests terminis són els generals. Cada denominació pot ser més exigent, i els blancs i els rosats tenen terminis més curts. Un reserva no és millor que un jove: és diferent. Si prefereixes una fruita viva i fresca, el jove pot guanyar. Si busques un vi més profund i especiat per a una carn al forn, un reserva o gran reserva t’encaixarà millor.
Al catàleg de vins negres pots veure la criança de cada ampolla a la fitxa, o deixar-te aconsellar pel sommelier virtual.
En resum, criança, reserva i gran reserva parlen de temps a la bota i a l’ampolla, i no d’una escala de qualitat.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reserva better than a crianza?
Not necessarily. It is a wine that has aged longer, with a more complex and spiced style. Which is better depends on what you like.
Does a gran reserva need decanting?
If it is very old it may have sediment, and decanting helps separate it. Otherwise, opening it a few minutes beforehand is enough.
Can you always taste the oak?
It shows more the longer the wine has spent in barrel and the newer the barrel is. The typical aromas are vanilla, coconut and spice.
Is a young wine lower in quality?
No. It is simply a different style, fresher and fruitier, meant to be drunk within a short time.
