Bodegas Lan Gran Reserva 2017

Bitter chocolate, raspberries, blackberries, spice box and some spearmint on the nose. Complex and flavorful, with a medium to full body, a firm tannin frame, and a lengthy, compact finish.

Elegant and aromatic, with detailed hints of star anise, dried thyme and mocha winding through the core of ripe black cherry and boysenberry fruit. Fine-grained tannins are well-meshed and lightly chalky in texture, emerging to firm the focused finish. Tempranillo and Graciano. Drink now through 2030. 29,000 cases made, 3,500 cases imported.

The 2017 Gran Reserva is 96% Tempranillo and 4% Mazuelo, sourced from Haro, Villalba, Foncea and Cenicero in Rioja Alta. Aged for 25 months in French and American oak barrels, this garnet wine presents intense black fruit aromas with wild herbs and garrigue-like balsamic notes. Hints of coffee, wax and varnish add further complexity. Dry, rich and taut due to its fairly rough tannins, it lingers with a firm mouthfeel, showcasing a classic yet warm expression of Rioja.