Corpus linguistics studies language on the basis of real-life sampling. An analysis of Telmo Rodriguez' narratives would highlight the frequency of the word ‘beautiful’, which seems to be particularly onomatopoeic when spoken in his slight and melodic Spanish accent. At a tasting of Remelluri wines in London, he declared, ‘Rioja is beautiful’. After tasting his wines, from Remelluri and Lanzaga, I agree, but I admit that until now and with occasional exceptions, Benjamin Romeo and Abel Mendoza spring to mind, Rioja has never been high on my list of priorities, either to drink or to buy, although I am sometimes...