Rioja Crianza “D-12” 2018 – Bodegas LAN

The grapes to produce the Rioja Crianza “D-12” Bodegas LAN were destemmed and crushed. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 25°C, in order to retain the aromatics of the Tempranillo. A post-fermentastion maceration on the skins helped to round out the tannins and gave the wine a lovely silky mouthfeel. The wine was aged for 12 months in new oak barrels, 70% of which were American oak from the Appalachians, 30% of which were French oak from the forests of Châteauroux and Loches. The final blend was then assembled and the wine was aged for a further 12 months in bottle before release.

The Tempranillo grapes for the 2018 D-12 were sourced from two specially selected vineyards: one in Lanciego in Rioja Alavesa boasting vines over 30 years old, the other in El Cortijo, near the Viña Lanciano estate in Rioja Alta, with 42-year-old vines. These older vines produce lower yields of grapes with great intensity of flavour.

Founded in 1972, Bodegas LAN is situated in the heart of Rioja Alta. Though a relatively young Rioja house, Bodegas LAN has gained a reputation for the excellent quality of its wines. This quality is derived from the grapes they work with, grown in their spectacular Viña Lanciano vineyard and other prime vineyard sites in Rioja Alta and Alavesa, and from winemaker María Barúa’s great attention to detail in the winery. Viña Lanciano is one of largest and most striking single-vineyard sites in Rioja Alta, encircled by a meander of the Ebro river. The vineyard’s poor, stony soils and old vines, up to 60 years of age, are both conducive to low yields of very concentrated fruit. The site is divided into 24 plots of different soils and aspects and these are matched to the different grape varieties: Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha and Mazuelo.