In the early 1990s, Telmo Rodríguez left his family estate in Rioja to make a name for himself in the rest of Spain. When he returned to Rioja in 1998, founding Bodega Lanzaga with his friend Pablo Eguzkia, he brought with him a broad experience from not only Spain but also Burgundy, Bordeaux (where he studied) and the Rhône. This experience urged him to approach Rioja with an approach vastly different from the Consejo Regulador, which chimed with Telmo’s innately rebellious character.
Lanzaga is sourced from dozens of plots totalling 20 hectares around Lanciego. A selection of the best fruit is hand-harvested and fermented in cement tanks, before ageing in a combination of large and small oak barriques (up to 25hl) for up to 14 months. The result is a rich, complex, yet elegant wine that honestly reflects the nuances of the vineyard site.
