Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Vintage: 2019

Cépage: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano

Size: 750 ml

Rating(s): No Rating

Led by visionary winemaker Telmo Rodríguez, Bodega Lanzaga is reshaping what defines Rioja by crafting human-scale, terroir-driven wines. Embracing the village-based winemaking traditions of Rioja’s history, Telmo Rodríguez founded his flagship project, Bodega Lanzaga, in 1998 with a radical mission to focus on small-parcel, small-production wines from places that authentically reflect the true essence of Rioja.

Bodega Lanzaga’s flagship bottling is their eponymous Rioja ‘Lanzaga,’ a field blend from estate vineyards and, according to Telmo Rodríguez, “the backbone of our project, the identity, the purest expression of our work in Lanciego.”

It’s noteworthy that the wine doesn’t feature Rioja’s typical labelling system of Crianza, Reserva, or Gran Reserva; instead declaring – through omission – an intent to represent terroir over technique. What’s more, the ‘redacted’ wording on the label is a form of protest against Rioja’s ‘village’ labelling regulations, which tend to favor larger producers.

The grapes are the top selections from 35 different plots of organic vineyards with various soil compositions. All the vines are bush trained and sit between 450 and 650m elevation.

 Winery Notes