Bodegas LAN, `D-12` Rioja Crianza, DOC Rioja, Spain 2020

Intense cherry red in colour. On the nose, aromas of ripe strawberries and raspberries are married with spicy notes of liquorice and chocolate and subtle floral hints. On the palate, velvety tannins give a silky mouthfeel and a crisp acidity carries the flavours onto the spicy finish.

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.

‘D-12’ Crianza is a nod to the cheeky Rioja tradition of winemakers choosing the best wines to keep for themselves. In Bodegas LAN’s case, this was always the wine in the ‘D-12’ tank.

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.

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes 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-fermentation 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. The final blend was then assembled and the wine was aged for a further 12 months in bottle before release.

Country: Spain 

Region: Rioja

Vintage: 2020

Grape Variety: Tempranillo

ABV: 13.5%

Size: 750ml 

Producer: Bodegas LAN