Bodegas Lanzaga Rioja Lanzaga

Mkt otypisk Rioja. Saftig, bra syra men aningen tama tanniner. Luftade 60 min, det var nog onödigt. I övrigt välbalanserad. Örtig, lakrits, mogna frukter bla plommon. Svarta bär men kanske röda.. eller mitt emellan. Inte ett klockrent matvin, detta borde avnjutas i soffan, då kommer det nog bättre till sin rätt.

I'm a big fan of Telmo's wines but this one has always been a bit 'Hmm' for me - I never get anything beyond a modicum of interest. It is complex; oak and fruit are present, a little mineral, spice, slightly baked fruits but it has never made me excited and so it proves on this occasion. Damn.

Spanish fun day one (N&J's place, Canberra) : From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas initially that open with time to show slightly spiritous red hued fruit; a little strawberry, cherry and raspberry, touch of sweet spice, like of vanilla. That vanilla is more to the fore on the palate joined by sweet spice, alcohol warmth here as well as the red hued fruit, tannins are woody but controlled but its a little overdone for me. Hmm.

From Coravin. Dense with vanilla, savoury and sweet spice especially baking spices, very slight reductive note gamey with a melange of black and red fruits that prove slightly smudgy. Savoury, juicy, a little vanilla, t fleshy tannins are quite softly textured but persist in a supporting role to the fruit melange. hmm.

TSA - Rioja (Zoom call) : From Coravin. After the last two far less oak, more black than red berry fruit; blackberry in fact, touches of boiled fruit drop. There are some garrigue notes here as well. Juicy, savoury, dark hued fruit, chalky tannins, fruit generous, fruit shines, travels long. Nice. Alcohol is slight intrusive on the finish.

A modern, smooth, straight forward example, well made, well balanced -