Culmen Reserva 2019

Culmen Reserva is made by LAN in Fuenmayor, in the Rioja Alta, a long standing classic of the cellar. It is built from Tempranillo with a measure of Graciano, all drawn from a rigorous selection of vines over forty years old in the Rincon parcel of the Vina Lanciano estate, where yields are kept low at around 3,800 kilograms per hectare. The Rioja Alta sits at altitude on clay limestone soils, and the cool climate with its wide day to night temperature swing gives slow, even ripening, firm acidity and the perfume that marks fine Rioja. The must is fermented in conical tanks to aid colour extraction, then the wine is aged in French oak barrels, where steady oxygen exchange through the staves rounds the tannins and lays in vanilla, clove and a leathery, savoury complexity. The colour is intense cherry red. The nose shows sweet blueberry and ripe cherry over vanilla, clove and a hint of leather. The palate is full bodied and polished, with fine, ripe tannin, fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb and grilled red meat.