Lanzaga 2015

It's always great to catch two vintages of the same wine to make comparisons, which is what I was able do with the 2015 Lanzaga, the Rioja village red from Lanciego, as I also tasted the 2016 next to it. 2015 was extreme, warm, rainy and early, with moderate yields of super healthy grapes. They select the grapes from their 15 to 20 hectares of organically farmed vineyards on limestone-rich slopes in the village. The wine fermented in 6,000-liter concrete vats with indigenous yeast and had an élevage of 14 months in 1,500- and 2,500-liter oak foudres and some 225-liter barriques. This being a great vintage suffered a bit in the comparison with the 2016, it feels a little more rustic. But it's all relative of course, the nose shows a combination of wild flowers, herbs and berries. The palate reveals abundant, slightly dusty tannins. 16,368 bottles produced. It was bottled in May/June 2017.

A rich, layered red with cherry, chocolate and coffee character. Hints of iodine and oyster shell. Medium-bodied and well integrated with fine tannins and a savory finish. Drink now or hold.