Lan D-12 2022

Bodegas Lan, founded in 1972, sources Lan D-12 from four plots in Haro, in the cooler western reaches of La Rioja Alta. The vines average 25 years and grow at 380 to 500 metres, an altitude that lengthens the ripening season and preserves acidity in the Tempranillo. After fermentation the wine spends ten months in a combination of French and American oak, then a further period settling in bottle. The American oak contributes the vanilla and creamy toffee character, while the French wood adds a finer spice and structure, and the slow oxygen exchange through the barrel staves softens the tannins. The result is a mid-weight Rioja in the classic mould. The colour is bright cherry red. The nose shows ripe red fruit with toffee, vanilla, cinnamon and a hint of cocoa. The palate is smooth and balanced, the oak woven through the fruit rather than dominating it, with a savoury, gently spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It suits roast lamb, grilled beef and aged sheep cheese, and the spice carries well alongside mushroom dishes.