Lanzaga El Velado 2016

Bodega Lanzaga is the Rioja-based project of acclaimed winemaker, Telmo Rodriguez. Founded in 1998, the estate now covers 15 hectares of scrupulously sourced vineyards of distinctive character and quality around the town of Lanciego. The 0.93ha El Velado vineyard sits at a height of 600m and is planted with bush vines that are up to 80 years old. The 1,516-bottle release of the 2016 vintage is a field blend of mostly Garnacha and Tempranillo plus other regional varieties, fermented in open-top oak vats and matured in 500-litre old oak for 15 months. Youthful and expressive, it radiates notes of ripe red and black fruits, exotic spices and wild herbs, displaying a charming ruggedness and web of bristling tannins that may just need a little more bottle age to soften.