2021 La Estrada Rioja, Bodega Lanzaga

• Style: Burgundian-inflected Rioja, mineral-driven
• Taste: Ripe cherry, liquorice, mint, stony mineral spine, refined tannins
• Food: Roast game, beef, lamb, aged Manchego, stews
• Occasion: Gifting, cellar worthy, serious dinners
• Serve: 14% ABV, bone dry, 15 months large oak, 610m elevation

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

La Estrada opens with delicate florals and wild herbs over a stony, mineral spine—the signature of high-altitude vineyards where cool nights preserve freshness and chalk clay soils dominate. On the palate, ripe red cherry anchors the frame while liquorice and mint add savory dimension, keeping the wine from tipping into mere fruit. The tannins are refined rather than aggressive, and the wine carries surprising depth for its refinement. At 14% ABV with crisp acidity and bone-dry profile, it won't fatigue across a long meal.

The Winery — Bodega Lanzaga

Founded in 1998 by Telmo Rodríguez and Pablo Eguzkia, Bodega Lanzaga approaches Rioja through a Burgundian lens—small parcels, old vines, minimal intervention—rather than the industrial template that once defined the appellation. Rodríguez, who trained in Burgundy and Bordeaux before returning to his native region, brought decades of experience from across Spain and France. His knowledge of Alavesa's viticultural history informed the decision to plant on the hills surrounding Lanciego, where old vines thrive. La Estrada itself occupies just 0.64 hectares on the highest, westernmost slope, with northeast exposure and pure chalk clay giving wines of uncommon precision. The 2021 blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano was co-fermented with wild yeast and aged 15 months in large, used oak—the restraint of the vessel lets the vineyard speak. Despite a cruel June hailstorm that devastated neighboring sites, the fruit arrived in October in excellent health, yielding grapes of rare concentration.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Roasted game, aged Manchego, beef with horseradish, lamb and stews—this wine thrives alongside serious food and rewards patience in the glass. Its bone-dry character and refined structure make it ideal for long meals without fatigue. At 97 points from James Suckling, 96 from Guía Peñín, Tim Atkin and Robert Parker, it's among the most acclaimed Riojas of the vintage. If you're exploring Grenache & Garnacha across Spain, this single-vineyard expression shows how Garnacha thrives when planted high and old, married with Tempranillo's structure. Discover more of our Rioja selection—the region's diversity runs far deeper than its reputation suggests.