2015 Telmo Rodriguez, Rioja “LZ” Vinedos de Lanciego, Spain.
One of Spain’s most influential and talented winemakers, Telmo Rodriguez, who makes his family’s wine at Remelluri, also has his own cellars in Rioja where he crafts a wonderful collection of wines, including this fresh young LZ Rioja. Made from purchased grapes, the LZ comes from old bush vines of Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha grown on clay and calcareous hillside soils of the Rioja Alavesa farmed traditionally then fermented with native yeast in cement vats. This youthful red shows beautiful purity and style with juicy fresh black raspberry, cherry and currant fruit and dusty spices and loamy earth as well as black licorice, peppercorns, light floral notes and cinnamon. This vibrant Rioja highlights the vintage and terroir giving loads of flavor and life with a medium body in a easy to drink form, great for an array of foods and tapas this 2015 LZ by Telmo Rodriguez is an amazing value and unique Rioja expression. This red/garnet hued wine with ruby edges is a great entry to Telmo’s wines, he has vast experience including winemaking in Bordeaux, Burgundy and in the Rhone with the famed Jean-Louis Chave, as well as crafting a mind-boggling range of small production and handcrafted Spanish offerings from almost every region and every grape! Drink up, this Telmo Rodriguez Rioja LZ 2015 is lovely stuff to enjoy in it’s youth, I’m a huge fan of Telmo’s wines from this one to his Remelluri, these are wines to cherish and celebrate!
($16 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
