Bodegas LAN Rioja Xtreme Crianza

Bodegas LAN Rioja Xtreme Crianza

WHY WE LOVE IT

  • The extreme manifestation of LAN’s philosophy on respect for raw materials is embodied in LAN Xtrème Ecológico.
  • A wine with minimal intervention from its origin, the result of a selection of vines from the Mantible Ecological plot, named for its proximity to the Mantible Roman bridge. “Ecological Mantible” Plot (“Viña Lanciano” estate).
  • Extension: 5 hectares. Altitude of 400 meters with orography of downward slope in an East-West direction. Sandy loam soils with abundant presence of small and medium-sized boulders.

Varietal Composition: 100% Tempranillo

Elaboration: Manual harvest in small 20 kg baskets. Subsequent selection by bunch and by grain on a double selection table. Alcoholic fermentation (AF) with yeasts from the grapes in two semi-trunk-conical tanks with continuous pump-overs for 2-3 weeks to obtain optimal color extraction. After AF, the wine was discovered and deposited in new French oak barrels, in which malolactic fermentation (FM) took place spontaneously, beginning at the end of January 2019 and ending in May of the same year. Aging for 12 months in new French oak barrels, followed by a year of refining in the bottle. Barrels used for organic wine can only be new or have housed certified organic wine for at least one year.

Tasting Notes: Intense garnet color. Intense aromas of blueberries, very ripe red fruit and blackberry as well as hints of liquor, cinnamon and pepper. On the palate it is powerful and fresh, tasty and with a long aftertaste.

PRESS

2015 – 91 James Suckling | 91 Wine Spectator

2017 – 90 Wine Spectator

2018 – 91 Wine Spectator

2019 – 91 James Suckling | 90 Wine Spectator

PRODUCER BACKGROUND

Bodegas LAN is a relative newcomer to the Rioja scene, having been founded in 1972. The name “LAN” is an acronym for the three provinces that make up Rioja, Logroño, Alava, and Navarra.

LAN produces some of the most consistent, value-driven examples of Rioja on the market, and is also is an established leader on the premium side. LAN’s iconic 72 hectare Viña Lanciano vineyard sits on a breathtaking natural meander along the Ebro river and is the basis for most of the company’s top bottlings.

The spirit of experimentation and innovation permeates the culture at LAN, and winemaker María Barúa is continually pushing the limits and preconceptions people have of the region.

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PRINT REVIEW SHELF TALKER (2019 – 90 Wine Spectator)