Essentially WineTel 01737 55 77 37
Email info@essentiallywine.com
Tel 01737 55 77 37
Email info@essentiallywine.com
12th March 2010:
"An evening of mystery, culture and enjoyment with Bodegas LAN from Rioja."
Some of our Richmond customers were treated to a wonderful tasting of six wines from this extraordinary winery, founded on a site originally planted by the Romans. At eight o’clock sharp we were all herded downstairs to the conference room where Marian Saseta of Bodegas LAN, who had only just arrived from Spain, was prowling around, practising her English on herself.
She need not have worried; she was a charming and knowledgeable ambassador, and soon had everyone fascinated by the story of the map on the label of our first wine, the Albarino Santiago Ruiz 2008. This is a clean fresh crisp white, with quite a lot of personality, since there are flavours of herbs along with the apples and citrus fruits.
Next up was the LAN Rioja Crianza 2005. As Sam was pouring this, he noticed there was a glass missing and had to fetch another. This wine went down so well that we had to bring the food out early to accompany it! A light style Rioja, it nevertheless had a smoothness to it with great balance and soft tannins.
The Reserva 2004 was next. A little different in character, as the soft vanilla flavoured Tempranillo grape was augmented by small amounts of Mazuelo and Garnacha, giving us a sweeter fruit and long finish.
As I was pouring the next wine, the Lanciano Reserva 2004, it became apparent that a wine glass was missing from the table again. No matter; plenty more, but it was a little odd. This wine was very different. More refined, austere, and drier in character, it has been aged in Russian Oak.
The 2006 Edicion Limitada signalled the arrival of more food for the guests who were thoroughly enjoying themselves. This was a big powerful wine, brilliant with spicy foods, with lots of dark intense fruits. With perfect timing, Marian led us into the final wine of the evening, the Culman Reserva 2004.
85% Tempranillo, and 15% hand picked Graciano grapes from 40 year old vines, only produced in exceptional years, this is a wine to seriously drool over. Combining elegance with power, the Culman Reserva trumped the evening, and after Marian and the guests had happily departed, we were left with two thoughts; firstly, how much the enjoyment of a wine is enhanced by getting to know the delightful people who make it, and secondly, if there were two glasses missing from the table during the proceedings, how can they reappear during the washing up?
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