Lanzaga 2021

Lanzaga is made by Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez, the partnership of oenologists Telmo Rodriguez and Pablo Eguzkiza, both shaped by time in Burgundy and Rioja. The vineyards sit around Lanciego in the Rioja Alavesa, a cooler, higher corner of the appellation where the Sierra de Cantabria shelters the vines and clay limestone soils hold water through dry summers. Working with the native varieties of the region, the wine is a blend of Garnacha, Graciano and Tempranillo farmed organically. The poor, calcareous soils and altitude keep yields low and acidity firm, while the diurnal range fixes colour and aromatic freshness in the fruit. The wine is aged fourteen months in separate containers, a measured time in wood that rounds the tannins and adds structure while leaving the fruit and the herbal Graciano lift in the foreground. The colour is deep cherry. The nose shows ripe red and black fruit, dried herbs, leather and a touch of vanilla over an earthy base. The palate is medium to full bodied, with fresh acidity, fine tannin and a savoury, persistent finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, decanted if young. It is a natural match for roast lamb and grilled red meat.