Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,322 strong:

Register Today!

Luis Cañas Rioja Crianza 2012 Wine Review

Luis Cañas Rioja Crianza 2012

Luis Cañas Rioja Crianza 2012

Rioja D.O.C.A., Spain

Community Score:89/100

Community Reviews: 20

  Add My Review


Price: $17.95

Drink: 2013-2019

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Luis Cañas

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 92/100

A gorgeous, rich and full-bodied Spanish red wine made from Tempranillo grapes. Seductive aromas of leather, dust and smoke. Perfect for lamb with rosemary. This wine will also age well in your cellar or make a great gift wine.

Best Beef Wine

This Luis Cañas Rioja Crianza 2012 was reviewed on December 8, 2017 by Natalie MacLean

Pricing & Stock Information

  • BCLDB
  • 845263
  • $19.00 
  • Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Carola Price rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Excellent Tempranillo. Coffee and tobacco leaf with some black fruit in the nose. Medium bodied with an earthy finish. Pair with garlicky pork roast or steak frites with garlic aioli.
Another excellent cellar selection for very little money. Should develop nicely over the next 5 years.
Donna Hargrove rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby in colour, this Tempranillo is true to it's grape. Cherry, plum, tobacco, dark spices all blend nicely for a full body finish. Medium acid and tannins. This wine would complement a spicy dish nicely.

Tasted November 17, 2017
Wineboy rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Perfect oak/fruit balance for me, with lifted fruit aromas and an accent (not dominated) by a vanilla element. Plush mouthfeel with medium weight in terms of power. Good length and fruit persists and matches oak through its duration.
Colin McKone - Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Dark ruby with aromas of plum, black cherry, smoke with a hint of vanilla. Full bodied and well balanced tannins and acidity with black cherry, plum, smoke and some black pepper flavours. This will pair great with hard cheeses and grilled red meats.
Caitlin Coleman rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Deep garnet colour. Beautiful bouquet on the nose of black plum and red fruits. Full and luscious mouthfeel with hints of eucalyptus and oak. Ideal with spicy cured meats.
Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Medium ruby colour, lots of dark cherry, light skinned plum, touches of smoke and leather. Flavours are vibrant with smoked red fruit, cherry, licorice, and dark chocolate. Medium acidity that creates a nice round finish with firm, yet supple tannins. Dry with a medium plus body and finish. Will pair well with herb crusted lamp chops and portobello mushroom salad.
Rachelle O'Connor rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A great value Tempranillo. There is loads of candied plum and fresh tobacco with bold flavors of pepper, spice and earthiness. Pair with grilled kabobs. Tasted April 3/16.
Mary Anne van Gaal rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

This robust Tempranilo greets the nose with aromas of ripe plum and tobacco. Flavours of pepper, spice and plum round out this wine. It would be great paired with grilled or roasted pork.
Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Dusty blackberry, vanilla, and smoke. Grippy tannins structure a dry blackberry flavour. Pair with hard cheeses.
Bill Wright Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

The nose is met with tobacco, smoke and dark fruits. Some plum. Palate follows nose with nice spice. Great acid and fruit on the finish.
Tasted April 3/16
Courtney Flood rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Bright cherry, raspberry, basil, peppercorn and allspice. Bright start, strong and grippy finish.

Pair with simple pasta and fresh marinara
Lori Kilmartin WSET3 - WSET3 Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

95% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha - this is a full bodied wine that has spent 12 months in French and American oak. The oak imparts notes of smoke, leather and vanilla. Lots of dark fruit, ripe blackberry and some cooked raspberries. Peppery on the palate with noticeable tannins. A long finish with a good balance of acidity, fruit and tannins. I paired this with meatloaf, mashed parmesan potatoes and corn niblets and it was excellent!! Would also be a great (and inexpensive) match with bbq'd hamburgers! Tasted April 12, 2016
Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Ripe cherry, vanilla and leather fragrances repeated on the palate with a touch of smoke. This wine is 95% Tempranillo blended with 5% Garnacha, which makes it a little lighter and fruitier than 100% Temp. Enjoy with grilled lamb chops.
Tasted Nov. 2017
Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby in the glass with nose of berry, plum and oak spice. Medium bodied, good balance of acid, tannin and sweet ripe, plum, red berry fruit with a little spicyness on a medium finish. Drink now and over the next 3-4 years.
Tasted Nov, 2017
Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Aromas are mostly some soft plum, with some smoke and tobacco. medium bodied, lots of plum on the palate, some pepper on the palate. Nice acidity. Medium tannins. This would be great to pair with hamburgers.
Jacky Blisson rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Medium ruby, garnet rim. Intense black berry, cherry and stewed raspberry notes with earthy, floral undertones. Vibrant and fresh, with smooth, velvetty mid-palate and subtle cedar and vanilla oak on the finish. The tannins are ripe, and just slightly chewy.

2 Members would buy this wine again

If you liked the Luis Cañas Rioja Crianza 2012, you might also like these wines:

Recipes for Luis Cañas Rioja Crianza 2012

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Lui Úmile Red Wine
Malbec 2021,
Mendoza ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,322 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  

337,676

WINE
REVIEWS

327,322

ACTIVE
MEMBERS
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award