Laventura Tempranillo 2023

Laventura is the Rioja project of Bryan MacRobert, a South African winemaker settled in Logroño who learned his approach alongside Eben Sadie. The wine is built on Tempranillo from Laguardia in Rioja Alavesa, with Garnacha and Mazuela rounding out the blend. The vineyards sit on the clay and limestone soils typical of the zone, which hold water through dry summers and lend Tempranillo its firm acidity and red fruit. Farming is ecological and the winemaking deliberately low intervention, with native yeast fermentation and ageing in used wood that adds structure without heavy oak character. Malolactic fermentation softens the natural acidity and rounds the texture. At 12.5 percent this is a lighter, fresher take on the region than the old reserva model. The colour is medium ruby. The nose leads with cherry and red berries over plum, dried herbs and a savoury, leathery note. The palate is medium bodied with fine tannin, bright acidity and an earthy, mineral finish. Serve at 16 degrees, ideally decanted for half an hour. It suits roast lamb, grilled pork and aged sheep's cheese.