2019 Bodega Lanzaga Rioja

Aromas of wild herbs, white pepper, and red cherry open to a medium-bodied palate with fresh-toned red and black fruit, plum, and a hint of citrus zest. The tannins are polished and dusty, spreading evenly across the palate, with a finish that is balanced and persistent with lingering berry fruit and mineral depth.

Grapes are hand-harvested from 15 to 20 hectares of certified organic estate vineyards, then largely destemmed before fermentation with native yeasts in small concrete tanks. The wine is aged for 6 to 7 months in concrete, then lightly fined and filtered before bottling. No new oak is used at any stage.

The vineyards are located around the village of Lanciego in Rioja Alavesa, north of the Ebro River, at elevations between 500 and 700 meters. The soils divide between shallow, stony limestone on flat sandstone plateaus and gently sloping marl-based soils of fine texture, both of which contribute to the wine's fresh acidity and mineral character. The estate is the project of winemaker Telmo Rodríguez, who has farmed these vineyards organically since the bodega's founding.