Vintus

Altos de Lanzaga, Rioja

The Rioja vineyards for Telmo Rodriguez’ wines are in the eastern part of the region, in Lanciego. It is here, on the clay and calcerous slopes, that some of the most interesting vineyards of Rioja coexist with hundred year old olive groves. Descendents of the same families that pruned these vines over two centuries still work in the bush vine vineyards, using the same methods of cultivation. Telmo’s wines come from a combination of estate vineyards (and in the case of Altos de Lanzaga, exclusively estate vineyards), and those of growers in the area who cultivate under Telmo’s supervision.

The Rioja flagship Altos de Lanzaga comes from one of the most exceptional vineyards in Lanciego. More specifically, the fruit comes from about 10 biodynamically farmed acres of Tempranillo vineyards more than 70 years old, which sit on numerous different altitude levels, with extremely low yields of around 800 pounds of fruit per acre. The grapes are crushed by foot in shallow stone vats in the traditional cellar located in the village of Ollauri, and extraction occurs softly with pump-overs avoided in order to protect the wine’s finesse. Fermentation is done in large, open wooden vats, and aging is in new French Oak casks for 19 months, with each cask studied individually and dried for a lengthy period corresponding to its specific characteristics. The objective throughout is to vindicate the subtlety that a great Rioja must have.

Vintage 2005 Reviews:
“Ruby-red. Perfumed nose offers a suave array of red and dark berries, minerals and fresh flowers. Spicy, medium-weight raspberry and cassis flavors are impressively deep but are reined in by gentle minerality. Turns sweeter on the silky finish, but maintains shape and focus. This is almost shockingly pure and understated, with sneaky finishing persistence and an insinuating floral pastille quality.” 93 IWC, Sep/Oct 2008

Vintage 2004 Reviews:
“Ruby-red. Perfumed nose offers a suave array of red and dark berries, minerals and fresh flowers. Spicy, medium-weight raspberry and cassis flavors are impressively deep but are reined in by gentle minerality. Turns sweeter on the silky finish, but maintains shape and focus. This is almost shockingly pure and understated, with sneaky finishing persistence and an insinuating floral pastille quality.” 92 IWC, Sep/Oct 2007