2020 Medium Best Wines Under $50

Carlos Serres is a bit of an OG - one of the few Rioja producers with a century of winemaking behind them. Carlos was actually named Charles, a French Winemaker who left Bordeaux, fed up with dealing with phylloxera riddled vineyards, landing in Spain. He founded the first winery in Rioja with export certification and applied French winemaking techniques to Rioja fruit. Pretty soon, there was a demand for Rioja in the rest of Europe and the US.

Carlos Serres Crianza is 100% Tempranillo and spends 14 months in a combo of French and American oak. Being 'Crianza', the wine has spent a year in barrel, and another on bottle prior to release. Typically aged in older oak, Crianza can have quite assertive tannins and fruit which is intense whilst retaining great freshness. This is a particularly good example, packed with red fruits, cherries, spice, oak and nervy acidity.

This is a soft, spicy, black-fruited beast with plums and blackberries spiced with pepper and five spice and served on cedary oak. Tannins are fine and soft, making this an excellent accompaniment to food. Like Rhone blends! We love 'em. This is definitely worth a look!

In addition to 6 gold medals to date, this was also awarded trophies for best value Australian Shiraz and best value dinner party red at the World Wine Championships.