Bodegas Lanzaga (Telmo Rodríguez) - Rioja "La Estrada" 2021 (750ml)
Price: $139.99
| Producer | Bodegas Lanzaga (Telmo Rodríguez) |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Varietal | Tempranillo, Graciano |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 204406 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Bodegas Lanzaga (Telmo Rodríguez) Description
Telmo Rodríguez founded Bodega Lanzaga in 1998 and opened his winery in 2009 in the village of Lanciego, located in the subzone of Rioja Alavesa. He saw incredible potential in the area, but, it’s worth pointing out that before the establishment of the large firms in the 1850s, Rioja Alavesa was historically defined not by commercial interests but by individual grower-makers, a mantle Telmo proudly takes on.
At the heart of Bodega Lanzaga is its connection to history and place, working only with head-trained, old-vine, and organically-farmed vineyards in and around the villages of Lanciego (population: 650) and Labastida (population: 1,500). Telmo’s methods are at once ancient and innovative; by returning to an old style of farming and winemaking, he’s pushing forward winemaking in Rioja. The irony isn’t lost on him; as Telmo puts it: “We dream of making the best Rioja wine of the 18th century.”
James Suckling: 97 Points
Minerals, peppery spices, blue fruit and violets. Fine-grained, mealy tannins on the palate. Firm and extremely long, with some white pepper at the end. Lots of finesse here, despite the taut firmness.
Wine Advocate: 96 Points
The single-vineyard 2021 La Estrada was produced with the field blend of grapes from a northeast-facing 0.64-hectare plot planted in the 1940s at 610 meters in altitude, one of the highest vineyards in the village of Lanciego. In 2021, they started harvesting the 10th of October. It fermented in 3,000-liter open-top oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak barrels and foudres for 14 to 16 months. It has 14% alcohol, all the 2021s have a little less alcohol, a pH of 3.67 and 4.57 grams of acidity. It has some spiciness and notes of flowers, herbs and wild berries, with contained ripeness, with slightly chalkier but firm tannins with tension, with a little more grip. This is a wine that ages nicely, and those "Italian" tannins get polished with time in bottle. This is their red with more Tempranillo, with a little Graciano and some white grapes but not much.
Vinous: 95 Points
The 2021 La Estrada is a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano from a 0.64-hectare old-vine plot in upper Lanciego. Initially reductive, it opens up to offer red and black fruit, sour cherry, field herbs, violet and strawberry. Juicy and textured, the palate has fine-grained, active tannins with chalky grip while the fruity flavors are given a floral lift and clarity by "al dente" harvesting. This is a captivating 2021 of elegance and freshness.
