`Viña Lanciano` Rioja Reserva 2020

Founded in 1972, Bodegas Lan combines tradition with innovation to produce benchmark Rioja wines, predominantly from their ‘Viña Lanciano’ vineyard in Rioja Alta. Hand-harvested and sustainably farmed, ‘Vina Lanciano’ is one of Rioja Alta’s largest and most striking single-vineyards, encircled by the curve of the Ebro River. The vineyard’s poor, ‘canto rodado’ stony soils and old vines, aged up to 60 years old, create low yields of very concentrated fruit. The site is divided into 24 plots according to soil and aspect, with each matched to Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha and Mazuelo. The jewel of Viña Lanciano is ‘Pago el Rincón’, the highest and oldest plot within the vineyard, which produces their ‘A Mano’ and ‘Culmen’ Riojas.

María Barúa has been the head winemaker and technical director of Bodegas Lan since 2002. Born and raised in Rioja, María is an oak ageing expert. Just as the vineyards' subplots are matched to their optimal grape variety, María matches each wine with the perfect barrel. She works with a wide range of French, American, Pyrenean and Hungarian oak barrels from numerous coopers, and Bodegas Lan was the first producer in Rioja to pioneer a hybrid barrel with American oak staves and French oak heads.

 

This wine is bright crimson in colour with purple hues. Elegant aromas of ripe red and black fruits, violet and cinnamon are combined with the signature minerality of wines from the Viña Lanciano estate, a smokiness from the oak and earthy, leathery aromas from the bottle age. The palate is silky and elegant, showcasing ripe fruits and finely integrated tannins. This is a remarkable Rioja with wonderful elegance and finesse.