The Hedonistic Taster
by L.M. Archer
Wine should not be regarded simply as a beverage, but as an art of living, a pleasure.” – Henri Jayer
The Hedonistic Taster provides an intimate format for me to share industry trade samples with you.
Please enjoy this rare sampling of Bodegas LAN Rioja wines, part of a #wineStudio tasting to which I was invited recently, conducted by WSET wine educator Lyn Farmer.
For those of you unfamiliar with the brand, the anachronym ‘LAN’ honors the three provinces that comprise the DOCa Rioja: Logroño (now called La Rioja), Álava (a Basque province) and Navarra.
Bodegas LAN employs five different types of oak for aging wines. Each impart distinctive flavor profiles appropriate to each wine aged. Oak types include French (aromatic), American (coconut, vanilla), Russian (similar to French, but less pungent), Hungarian (aromatic, lactic notes), and Pyrenean (caramel, clove, resinous notes).
Finally, Bodegas LAN chooses Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha grapes, some from sixty-year-old vines, to craft these artisan wines – wines with an unexpected ‘lightness of being’ truly evocative of their unique terroir. ¡Salud!Disclaimer: No compensation is received; all opinions expressed are that of the author.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Bodegas LAN Crianza Rioja
Vintage: 2016
Alcohol: 13.5%
Suggested Retail: $ 14
Robe: Deep ruby robe with inky rim.
Nose: Red fruit, red apple, peony aromas.
Bouche: Balanced, well- structured, lithe body, supple finish. Incredible quality for value.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Bodegas LAN Reserva Rioja
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 13.5%
Link to Producer Specs here.
Suggested Retail: $ 20
Robe: Black hearted garnet hue.
Nose: Red and blue fruit bouquet with a hint of dill and vanilla.
Bouche: Dark plum, blueberry, brooding black fruit on the palate. Medium body, acids, tannins, finish. A wine that will amplify in depth and texture with age.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Bodegas LAN Gran Reserva Rioja
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol: 13.5%
Link to Producer Specs here.
Suggested Retail: $ 25
Robe: Deep purple-ruby color.
Nose: Tobacco, violet, stewed dark blue and black fruit bouquet.
Bouche: Plum, prune, cocoa, blueberry bouche. Surprising light body, striated tannins, ethereal finish. Remarkably vivid pour for an eight-year old reserve.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Bodegas LAN D-12 Crianza Rioja
Vintage: 2016
Alcohol: 13.5%
Link to Producer Specs here.
Suggested Retail: $ 20
Robe: Deep garnet hue.
Nose: Cassis, violets, potpourri aromas.
Bouche: Blackberry, cherry, raspberry bouche. Light-to-medium body; vivacious acids. Accessible now – will only improve with age. Well-deserving of its claim to fame as the “winemaker’s favorite.”
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Bodegas LAN Viña Lanciano Rioja Reserva
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 13.5%
Link to Producer Specs here.
Suggested Retail: $ 30
Robe: Deep, lustrous garnet hue.
Nose: Plush red fruit on the nose.
Bouche: Red plum, pomegranate, cranberry bouche. Light body, harmonious interplay between acids and tannins, sublime finish. This wine just gets better with every sip. The ‘soul’ of LAN, indeed.
TASTING NOTES:
Wine: Bodegas LAN Limitada Rioja
Vintage: 2016
Alcohol: 13.5%
Link to Producer Specs here.
Suggested Retail: $ 50
Robe: Dark porphyry hue.
Nose: Leather, lavender, dried rose petal, red fruit aromas.
Bouche: A hefty pour – literally (the bottle weighs over 2 lbs.), yet it pours out light bodied, with bright acids and soft tannins on the palate. Red raspberry and plum give way to prune and spice, yielding to a subdued finish. A luxury pour sure to burnish its muted brilliance over time.
More about Bodegas LAN here.
More Hedonistic Taster here.
Copyrighted L.M. Archer. All Rights Reserved.
