Telmo Rodríguez Lanzaga Rioja 2019
Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez
Telmo Rodríguez applies a Burgundian sensibility to old-vine Rioja, and Lanzaga is the proof of concept. The 2019 is both modern and deeply traditional — fruit-forward enough to enjoy young, structured enough to cellar for a decade. This is Rioja as terroir statement.
Nose
Dark cherry and dried violets open the nose, followed by cedar, toasted spice, and a subtle gamey, almost meaty quality. A background note of green herbs adds freshness.
Palate
Medium-to-full bodied with fine-grained tannins. Blackcurrant and cherry fruit dominate, supported by vanilla from oak aging and a mineral undertow. The mid-palate delivers a savory turn — dried herbs, leather, and a hint of smoke.
Finish
Long and structured, with cedar, dried cherry, and a whisper of violet persisting through a clean, tannic close.
- Varietal
- Tempranillo
- Blend
- Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha
- Vineyards
- Old vines (60+ years) in Lanciego, Rioja Alavesa
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Grilled lamb chops served with smoky romesco sauce and roasted piquillo peppers. The lamb's char and fat mirror the wine's gamey notes and tannin structure, while romesco bridges the cherry fruit.
Telmo Rodríguez, trained in Bordeaux and Burgundy, returned to Spain's Rioja Alavesa to rehabilitate abandoned old-vine plots around the village of Lanciego, farming organically and vinifying with minimal intervention.
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