Highlights: Bodega Lanzaga Corriente 2017 Rioja
Telmo Rodriguez is well known for his wine brand that covers many of Spain’s top regions. He returned to Rioja to start a special terroir focused project called Bodega Lanzaga, and this is the entry level wine in the portfolio. ‘Corriente’ was an old term that referred to good everyday wines, and this comes from Lanzaga’s home village of Lanciego de Álava in Rioja Alavesa (altitude between 480 and 650 m). It’s a blend of estate grapes and fruit bought from other farmers. Soils are poor and shallow, mainly, with some limestone content. Fermented in cement tanks and aged in a mix of barrels and foudres of different ages.
Bodega Lanzaga Corriente 2017 Rioja, Spain
14% alcohol. This is concentrated and has some savoury depth, but it’s also fresh, fleshy and silky. There’s ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit with a hint of earth, gravel and spice, and just a touch of oak. Shows ripeness but also balance, and the fruit – not the oak – is to the fore. It’s Rioja, for sure, but in a modern mould, without tasting too modern: there’s some savoury grip here as well as fleshy fruit and drinkability. Lovely stuff. 92/100 (£17.50 The Sourcing Table – declaration of interest: I am contributing editor)
UK agent Indigo Wine
