2014 RIOJA GRAN RESERVA, Bodegas LAN. Spain

94% Tempranillo , 6% Mazuelo, matured for 2 years in hybrid oak barrels (French oak heads and American oak staves).

From the website of the UK agent ‘Liberty Wines’ –
“Bodegas LAN is located in the heart of Rioja Alta. Founded in 1972, Bodegas LAN was named after the initials of the three provinces in the Rioja Designation of Origin: Logroño (now La Rioja), Álava and Navarra. María Barua has been the head winemaker and technical director since 2002, and brings both scientific expertise, with an academic background in chemistry in addition to her oenology degree, and local knowledge, being born, raised and educated in Rioja. She and her young and energetic team focus not only on understanding the technical details of winemaking, but also on ‘expressing the virtues of the land’.”
For this wine “The Tempranillo grapes are sourced from 30-year-old, low-yielding vines in the Haro, Villalba and Foncea areas of Rioja Alta. The Mazuelo comes from Bodegas LAN’s spectacular Viña Lanciano vineyard, located on a meander of the River Ebro.”

Not as rich and soft as many wines in our ‘Powerful’ section, but certainly intense and impressive. The vanilla oakiness is very clear, but not dominant.