2021 Lanzaga Rioja, Bodega Lanzaga

• Style: Burgundian-inflected Rioja field blend
• Taste: Silky tannins, dark berries, savoury herb spice, mineral edge
• Food: Roast game, duck, aged Manchego, herb-crusted lamb, chorizo
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night, cellar investment
• Serve: 14 hours cool; drink now or age gracefully to 2031

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

A beautifully structured field blend built on Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano—three grapes that have shaped the region for centuries. Dark forest berries and crisp red fruits mingle with dried herbs and balsamic whispers; the 14 months partly in large foudres, partly in smaller barriques, adds polish without oak dominance. Silky tannins grip without dominating, framed by bracing acidity and that distinctive savoury edge that transforms berry fruit into something far more nuanced. At 14% alcohol and cool-altitude minerality, this wine sits in that rare middle ground between immediate pleasure and genuine cellaring potential—drink it now with real satisfaction, or cellar it gracefully over the next decade.

The Winery — Bodega Lanzaga

Telmo Rodríguez trained in Burgundy and Bordeaux before returning to his native Rioja in 1998 with a vision utterly at odds with the regional establishment. Working with partner Pablo Eguzkia, he planted dozens of small vineyard plots around Lanciego village in the cool Alavesa hills, choosing to farm them organically, ferment with wild yeast, and bottle unfiltered and unfined—a Burgundian philosophy applied to Spain's most storied wine region. The 2021 vintage, despite a punishing June hailstorm that forced ruthless selection, produced bunches of exceptional ripeness and health, and that quality sings through in every sip. It's this restless intelligence that makes Lanzaga one of the most exciting estates at work today.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is a wine built for unhurried drinking and memorable dinners. Pair it with roasted game, duck, aged hard cheeses like Manchego, herb-crusted lamb, or cured meats including chorizo. Its mineral precision and savoury edge lift it beyond simple fruit, making it the natural centrepiece for Sunday lunch or date night gatherings where conversation matters as much as the meal. If you've tasted our wider Grenache & Garnacha selection or explored more of our Spain collection, you'll recognise that same rigorous thinking at work here. It sits comfortably alongside the rest of our Rioja offerings, each one chosen for what it says about its site and maker rather than its age or reputation alone.