Bodegas LAN - Rioja - Crianza 2020
James Suckling
90pt
Vinous Media
90pt
Description
LAN’s most famous wine, the one that best reflects their innovations in ageing, as they started to use hybrid oak barrels (with French oak bases and American oak staves) for LAN Crianza as long as two decades ago, contributing to its unmistakable character. Produced from selected vineyards in the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, aged between 10 and 20 years. Chalky-clay soils located on well-drained slopes with good sun exposure.
Tasting notes
Bright cherry red with a garnet rim. A refined nose with predominant notes of red and stone fruits: strawberry, raspberry and peach. Patisserie and cream encased in elegant notes of vanilla, caramel and a subtle hint of cinnamon. It is flavorful and expressive on the palate. It is immediately inviting, enveloping the palate and leaving a long and pleasant aftertaste.
Vinification
Produced from traditional winemaking with destalking and crushing. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, 15 days' maceration, with continuous pumping-over to optimize color extraction. Aged for 14 months in hybrid oak barrels, followed by 9 months' bottle conditioning.
Ageing
Aged for 14 months in hybrid barrels (American oak staves and French oak heads) followed by 9 months of rounding in the bottle prior to release.
Estate
Founded in 1972, Bodegas LAN lies in the heart of Rioja Alta. The name LAN comes from the initials of the three provinces of the Rioja Designation of Origin: Logroño, Álava and Navarra. María Barua has been the head winemaker and technical director since 2002 and brings both scientific expertise (with an academic background in chemistry in addition to her oenology degree) and local knowledge (having been born and raised in Rioja). Together with her young and energetic team, María focuses on using the latest advances in winemaking to ‘express the virtues of the land’.
Food pairing
A perfect wine by the glass. Very versatile and apt to combine with all types of food: cold starters, pasta, pizza, poultry, grilled red meat...
