CeToday we share one of the jewels of Spain. A great winery to visit in La Rioja, Bodegas LAN was founded in 1972. LAN is an acronym based on the initials of each of the three provinces that form the D.O.Ca. Rioja: Logroño (currently part of La Rioja), Alava and Navarra. Their oak program is particularly interesting as French, American, Russian and hybrid barrels (American staves and French oak heads built in the same barrel) are utilized in the blending. Bodegas LAN’s estate Viña Lanciano Vineyard parallels the Ebro river and is set on 72 hectares. Having visited the property a few years back it is hard to describe the beauty of the land. Grapes for their premium bottlings, the Viña Lanciano, the LAN A Mano and the Culmen. The vineyard has 24 plots, and is planted to Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha vines, aged on average up to 60 years. During harvest grapes are hand-harvested and once in the winery, bunches and grains are individually selected by hand prior to fermentation.
Their top wine is the ‘A Mano’ which is a barrel selection wine that is powerful and dense. It is an unabashedly modern style of Rioja. I love the 2014 ‘A Mano’ (OB, 95) which is dense and chewy with gobs of dense dark fruits. Learn more about Bodegas LAN at http://www.bodegaslan.com Here is my review of the Bodegas LAN ‘A Mano’ from 2014.
2014 Bodega LAN ‘A Mano’ Rioja- The 2014 ‘A Mano’ is a masterpiece from this challenging vintage in La Rioja. Now at the ten year mark this beauty is right at its peak — and still has a long way to go. A lush mouthfeel and beautiful tension greets you upon entry, showing dense boysenberry and black currant fruit flavors, with hints of menthol and milk chocolate. Broad-shouldered and generous, consume this beauty over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2034- 95