Winemaker Juan López de Lacalle's goal is to express the characteristics of each site of his vineyards in the wine. This is also the case with the 1.62 hectare San Lázaro vineyard, located in the town of Laguardia, Rioja, whose Tempranillo vines were planted in 1956. The vineyard is cultivated organically, and the vines are deeply rooted in the clay soils with a high lime and sand content, giving the wine a great balance. On the nose, it beguiles with delicate and fine fruity notes with hints of mint and liquorice. On the palate, it shows a beautiful spiciness and refreshing acidity. The San Lázaro impresses with its perfect balance of fruit, freshness, wood and terroir.

Attributes

Origin:	Spain / Rioja
Grape variety:	Tempranillo
Label:	Certified organic or biodynamic wine
Ripening potential:	3 to 20 years after harvest
Drinking temperature:	16 to 18 °C
Food Pairing:	Roast veal with morel sauce, Bistecca fiorentina, T-Bone steak
Vinification:	long must fermentation, fermentation in wooden barrel, fermentation at low temperatures
Harvest:	hand-picking, strict selection, in small boxes
Maturation:	in partly new and used barriques/ Pièces, bâtonnage
Bottling:	no filtration
Maturation duration:	10 months
Volume:	14.5 %
Note:	Contains sulphites

Producer

Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi de Laguardia

In Rioja Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, oenologist and founder of the Artadi group, has succeeded in making unique wines in an exciting and creative way. This is not least thanks to a distinctive style and his passion for environmentally friendly viticultural methods, which guarantee the future of winemaking and the authenticity of his wines.

This private cooperative project was founded by a group of winemakers in 1985, and has since 1992 been owned by the Lacalle y Laorden family. The vineyards, some of which are over 90 years old and are mainly planted with the Tempranillo grape, stretch from Laguardia to Elvillar de Álava. Some of the area is also dedicated to the white Viura varietal, which is typical of the Rioja region and goes into creating the Viñas de Gain Blanco. Thanks to the location of the vineyards, some of which are over 600 metres above sea level, the grapes benefit not only from optimal sunshine but also from the cooling Atlantic air.

juan carlos lopez de lacalle y su hijo carlos en el seque

Grape variety

Tempranillo

Iberian Native

The Tempranillo is the emblem of Spain. With its juicy cherry fruit, crisp tannins, and its notes of leather and spices, it gives the Rioja its face. In the Ribera del Duero, it is known as Tinta del país. Here it turns out focused and muscular. As it has inhabited the Iberian Peninsula for centuries, it is known under countless synonyms. Across the border in Portugal, it is called Tinta Roriz, and lends colour and body to port wine. It also plays an important role in the booming wine scene of the Douro Valley. The Tempranillo owes its name to its early maturity – "temprano" in Spanish means "early". Tip: do it like they do in Spain and enjoy it with lamb.

Region

Rioja

Rioja: A legend in upheaval

It is the flagship of the Spanish wine industry: the Rioja region, with its elegant, yet storable wines, most of which are dominated by the Tempranillo, has decisively influenced the image of Spanish wine. Above all, the Reservas and Gran Reservas, aged for years in barrels, enjoy a magical reputation. For about 20 years, the Rioja houses have created a sensation with modern-designed, fruity wines, which are marked more by their terroir than their aging processes.

Country

Spain

Spain – Variety and perfection

“Somewhere in la Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember...,” begins Don Quixote's odyssey.

The most famous part is definitely when Don Quixote thinks windmills are his enemy and wants to fight them – until they nearly kill him. It’s possible there was a bit too much of the La Mancha wine at play. Spanish vines fight for their survival in rugged landscapes, battling fierce drought and rough soils. But they fight well.

Rating

Parker 97 Points