Bodegas LAN Rioja Gran Reserva 2017

Bodegas LAN Rioja Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2017

Grapes: A blend of 96% Tempranillo & 4% Mazuelo, aged 25 months in French & American oak barrels and a further 36 months in bottle in the cellars before release.

Producer Tasting Note:

Garnet in colour, with ruby hues. On the nose, aromas of ripe black fruits and figs combine with vanilla, smoke and cinnamon, the result of the extended oak ageing, and tertiary aromas of leather and tobacco from prolonged bottle ageing. On the palate the wine is full bodied and round, with velvety tannins and a crisp acidity which balances the intense flavours and carries them onto the lingering finish.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Elegant and aromatic, with detailed hints of star anise, dried thyme and mocha winding through the core of ripe black cherry and boysenberry fruit. Fine-grained tannins are well-meshed and lightly chalky in texture, emerging to firm the focused finish. Tempranillo and Graciano. Drink now through 2030."

92/100 points, WINE SPECTATOR, August 2024

"The 2017 Gran Reserva is 96% Tempranillo and 4% Mazuelo, sourced from Haro, Villalba, Foncea and Cenicero in Rioja Alta. Aged for 25 months in French and American oak barrels, this garnet wine presents intense black fruit aromas with wild herbs and garrigue-like balsamic notes. Hints of coffee, wax and varnish add further complexity. Dry, rich and taut due to its fairly rough tannins, it lingers with a firm mouthfeel, showcasing a classic yet warm expression of Rioja."

91/100 points, VINOUS, 2024

The Tempranillo grapes are sourced from 40-year-old, low-yielding vines in the Haro, Villalba and Foncea areas of Rioja Alta. The Mazuelo comes from Bodegas LAN's spectacular Viña Lanciano vineyard, located on a meander of the River Ebro. This top-quality fruit is extremely concentrated in flavour and capable of standing up to extended periods of oak ageing.

Founded in 1972, Bodegas LAN is situated in the heart of Rioja Alta. Though a relatively young producer, the bodega has gained a well-deserved reputation for excellent quality wines. Its name is an acronym of each of the provinces it straddles: Logroño, Álava and Navarra. 

Food Match: Smoky lamb chops with spicy paprika patatas bravas