Telmo Rodriguez Bodega Lanzaga Lanzaga 2014, DO Rioja, Spain

The Rioja vineyards for Telmo Rodriguez’ wines are in the cool Lanciego zone within Rioja Alavesa. It is here, on the clay and calcerous slopes, that some of the most interesting vineyards of Rioja coexist with hundred year old olive groves. Descendants of the same families that pruned these vines over two centuries still work in the bush vine vineyards, using the same methods of cultivation. Telmo’s wines come from a combination of estate vineyards (and in the case of Altos de Lanzaga, exclusively estate vineyards), and those of growers in the area who cultivate under Telmo’s supervision. Lanzaga, the middle Telmo wine from Rioja, exhibits the character of the Lanciego vineyard’s fruit: a beautiful cohabitation of strength and elegance. A field blend of 90% Tempranillo, 7% Garnacha, and 3% Graciano, Lanzaga combines pure and intense fruit with a lovely elegance. The wine is fermented in large cement tanks with native yeasts and matured for 14 months in a combination of French oak foudres and new barrels.