{"product_id":"2019-bodegas-lan-xtreme-organic-rioja-crianza-liberty","title":"2019 Bodegas Lan, `Xtrème` Organic Rioja Crianza - Liberty","description":"\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eFounded 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eMaría 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eThese hybrid barrels are used to age the Rioja Crianza and Rioja Reserva, which both blend Tempranillo with Mazuelo (and a small percentage of Garnacha for the Crianza). The Gran Reserva is sourced from 40-year-old Tempranillo vines in Rioja Alta, with Mazuelo grown in the famed ‘Viña Lanciano’ vineyard, adding extra depth. It is aged for two years in French and American oak, followed by three years in bottle before release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eMade from 100% organic Tempranillo, the grapes for Bodegas Lan’s ‘Ecológico' Crianza are sourced from a five-hectare plot within ‘Viña Lanciano’. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 14 months in new French oak barrels, this is a fine, classic example of a Rioja Crianza. The ‘Viña Lanciano’ Reserva blends Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo, aged in French and Hungarian oak, creating an elegant expression of this beautiful vineyard. The ‘D-12’ Crianza nods to the cheeky Rioja tradition of winemakers choosing the best wines to keep for themselves. At Bodegas Lan, this was always the wine in the ‘D-12’ tank. Each harvest, the most promising Tempranillo parcel is identified for ‘D-12’. Aged in American and French new oak barrels, the ‘D-12’ boasts intense aromas of cranberry, redcurrant and prune coupled with vanilla and cinnamon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eThe ‘A Mano’ (‘by hand’ in Spanish) references the vigorous, labour-intensive sorting process undertaken in the ‘Pago el Rincón’, ensuring only the best grapes are used in this wine. It has the hallmark minerality of the ‘Viña Lanciano’ wines, coupled with juicy black fruit flavours and a perfectly integrated spiciness. The ‘Culmen’ (‘Epitome’ in Spanish) Reserva is produced only in outstanding vintages from the oldest Tempranillo and Graciano vines in the ‘Pago el Rincón’. This concentrated wine is aged for 25 months in new French oak barrels, followed by a further 22 months in bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eThough famed for their red wines, Bodegas Lan also produces a Verdejo in collaboration with Olga Tormo from D.O. Rueda. It blends estate-grown and locally purchased fruit from Rueda, sourced from vines aged between 17-30 years old at 700 metres above sea level. Soils in Rueda here have a high concentration of pebbles, low organic matter and excellent drainage. The grapes are harvested at night to preserve acidity, while lees ageing and bâtonnage add texture and intensity to this vibrant white wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Tempranillo grapes for the 'Xtrème Ecológico' come from the 'Mantible Ecológico' parcel within the famed Viña Lanciano vineyard - a prime site within Rioja Alta, located on a meander of the River Ebro. The five-hectare, organically farmed plot overlooks the ruins of the Roman bridge of Mantible and sits at 400 metres above sea level with an east-west aspect. Soils are composed of sandy loam and large 'canto rodado' stones and all of the grapes are hand harvested.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2019 vintage in Rioja was characterised by unusual weather conditions. There was less rainfall than usual over the winter, followed by a cold and rainy start to the spring which led to some issues with flowering and fruit set and resulted in slightly lower yields and loose berry clusters. A heatwave in June and July accelerated the ripening cycle and the harvest began two weeks ahead of schedule.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUpon arrival at the winery, the Tempranillo grapes were sorted twice - first by bunch and then by individual berry to ensure that only those in pristine condition made it into the final wine. Fermentation with native yeasts took place in cone-shaped tanks and lasted for two to three weeks with regular pump overs to extract the perfect levels of colour and flavour. After fermentation, the wine was transferred to new French oak barrels where it underwent malolactic fermentation and 14 months ageing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wine is deep ruby in colour. On the nose, there are pronounced aromas of cranberries, red cherries and ripe strawberries coupled with hints of liquorice and baking spice. On the palate, the wine is full bodied with silky tannins and intense flavours of ripe red fruits and spice which are carried by a vibrant acidity onto the lingering finish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wine Tasting Adventure","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56437670150522,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0527\/4297\/9770\/files\/LANXtrA_meecolA_gico__250x500_bb3c52f8-5d09-43f6-afd0-cf72d341f002.jpg?v=1767892006","url":"https:\/\/www.wine-ta.co.uk\/products\/2019-bodegas-lan-xtreme-organic-rioja-crianza-liberty","provider":"Wine Tasting Adventure","version":"1.0","type":"link"}