Bodegas Lan Rioja Alta Culmen Reserva 2017 [JS 94]

James Suckling 94 points.

"A deep and ambitiously structured Rioja with an array of fresh blue and black fruit, as well as classy oak spices and sandalwood. Full bodied and juicy, loaded with polished tannins, but the fruit core remains dry and elegant without superfluous sweetness. Ending long and spicy. A little tight and monolithic now, so give it a year or two to evolve and soften more. Heavy bottle! Drink from 2024." JS.

Culmen Reserva is a classic of both the LAN cellar and La Rioja. Culmen Reserva is made from the Tempranillo (85%) and Graciano (15%) varieties. The grapes come from a rigorous selection of vines over 40 years old in Rincon (Viña Lanciano). The vineyards have a yield of 3.800kg per hectare.

For processing, the must is fermented in conical tanks with the intention of facilitating the extraction of colour. The wine is macerated with the skins for three weeks.

After winemaking, Culmen Reserva is aged for 22 months in new barrels of French fine grain oak from the Troncaise and Allier forests. Once bottled, the wine rests for two years. Culmen Reserva is a limited production wine.

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