Winemaker Notes
A red with very little depth of color, hence its name. It shows great vivacity and preserves its red tones intact, so typical of the Garnacha variety, which denotes energy and youth. It has a great shine which, together with the great intensity of the red tones, gives the glass superb luminosity. Intensely aromatic, it retains its primary aromas, despite being an aged wine. The influence of Garnacha stands out fundamentally with notes of red fruits, strawberry yogurt and light touches of lollipop. Certain fresh tones are also perceived, with balsamic, floral and citrus notes, more typical of white varieties. And in the background, creamier and more enveloping nuances appear, the result of its aging in oak vats. A crystal-clear wine that denotes freshness and a great fruity character. It is a “long drink” wine, with great fluidity throughout its entire journey in the mouth. It is accompanied by a notable acidity, yet this acidity is well incorporated into the smooth sensations and delicate texture that it offers. It forgoes the structure of red wines to reveal its entire delicateness, with a pleasant, smooth touch, mirroring a white wine. Its aftertaste is highly complex, intertwining the sensations of fruit with spicy nuances and enveloping notes provided by oak-vat aging. Pure elegance within a harmony of varieties.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2022 El Pacto de Cardenas Oro Gallo is a stylish and distinctive Rioja. This light red offers aromas and flavors of rustic earth, garden herbs, suggestions of flowers, and faint licorice. Enjoy it with tuna tartare in a light soy, roasted sesame sauce. (Tasted: May 17, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
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Decanter
Clarete. Youthful red wine vibes, fresh black cherry, currants, and a hint of white chocolate. Very drinkable and refreshing with fine sappy tannins. Blackberries, blueberries, cherries, and violets. Balanced acidity, warm finish, and plenty of personality.
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Vinous
The 2022 El Pacto de Cárdenas Ojo Gallo is a blend of 70% Garnacha Tinta and 30% Viura from the Alto Najerilla area in Rioja. Fermented with 10% stems and aged for 10 months in foudres, this light cherry-colored wine offers raspberry and herbal aromas, accompanied by peach and dried flower notes. Dry, lean and refreshing, the vibrant acid core leads to a cleansing and flavorful finish.
Viñedos el Pacto is a return to the origins with a clear goal in mind: to prevent true village wines from becoming extinct. A handful of old vines, unscathed by the industrialization maelstrom, have preserved the value of small-scale, manual labor, and respect for natural cycles. This pact of gratitude and continuity is born in the heart of Rioja, in the Sonsierra and the Alto Najerilla, uniting past and present to ensure the future. Four wines make up this particular journey to the origins of the Vintae Wine Company. El Pacto del Alto Najerilla and El Pacto de la Sonsierra rediscover the essence and authenticity of the village wines from these two areas, which have long been associated with viticulture. Riojanda and Valdechuecas are the two wines from “Singular Vineyards", cataloged by the Ministry of Agriculture for being unique places, which must prove their peculiarity. Two extraordinary places where the terroir takes center stage.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Highly regarded for distinctive and age-worthy red wines, Rioja is Spain’s most celebrated wine region. Made up of three different sub-regions of varying elevation: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental. Wines are typically a blend of fruit from all three, although specific sub-region (zonas), village (municipios) and vineyard (viñedo singular) wines can now be labeled. Rioja Alta, at the highest elevation, is considered to be the source of the brightest, most elegant fruit, while grapes from the warmer and drier Rioja Oriental produce wines with deep color and higher alcohol, which can add great body and richness to a blend.
Fresh and fruity Rioja wines labeled, Joven, (meaning young) see minimal aging before release, but more serious Rioja wines undergo multiple years in oak. Crianza and Reserva styles are aged for one year in oak, and Gran Reserva at least two, but in practice this maturation period is often quite a bit longer—up to about fifteen years.
Tempranillo provides the backbone of Rioja red wines, adding complex notes of red and black fruit, leather, toast and tobacco, while Garnacha supplies body. In smaller percentages, Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan) often serve as “seasoning” with additional flavors and aromas. These same varieties are responsible for flavorful dry rosés.
White wines, typically balancing freshness with complexity, are made mostly from crisp, fresh Viura. Some whites are blends of Viura with aromatic Malvasia, and then barrel fermented and aged to make a more ample, richer style of white.