From high altitude vineyards (some as high as 1200m) in Rioja Alavesa, located close to Laguardia at the foot of the Cantabrian mountains, on the road to La Hoya in an area known as Pinuelas. Elle is 90 per cent tempranillo with graciano from 60-plus year old vines, aged 12 months in French oak. A chic and stylish Rioja with prominent aromatics, modernity all the way through and most impressive concentration. Low and slow developed spice makes this a wonder of gastronomy and the acids are sharp, pointed and so important. Crisp and concise for Rioja, clear and respectable for the hot vintage, paying full respect to what was needed, allowing for a small crop to hang long enough for quality to be assured. Impressive stuff with great help from vineyards situated at altitude. Drink 2023-2028. Tasted April 2021.

93 Points, Wine Align

The Winery

Landaluce is a relatively young winery in Rioja, as it started in the year 2000 in the village of Laguardia in the Alavesa part of the appellation.

They have 22 hectares in different parts of Laguardia, 10 of them old vines between 40 and 80 years of age.

They produce 165,000 bottles of clean and modern Rioja without excess.

They like Graciano (I've always had a soft spot for their bottling since I first tasted it), and in 2004, they planted three hectares of the variety that has slowly been making its way into other cuvées from 2017 onwards.