This carefully oaked Crianza bears all the hallmarks of María Barúa's winemaking skills. Fresh and well-balanced, with the fruit to the fore but a savoury spiciness evident from the judicious oak ageing.

This wine is intense cherry red in colour. Aromas of strawberry, raspberry and cranberries are framed by fine nuances of vanilla and toffee. Silky and structured on the palate, it has a long-lasting and satisfying finish.

Founded in 1972, Bodegas LAN lies in the heart of Rioja Alta. The name LAN comes from the initials of the three provinces of the Rioja Designation of Origin: Logroño, Álava and Navarra. María Barúa has been the head winemaker and technical director since 2002, and brings both scientific expertise (with an academic background in chemistry in addition to her oenology degree) and local knowledge (having been born and raised in Rioja). Together with her young and energetic team, María focuses on using the latest advances in winemaking to ‘express the virtues of the land’.

Grapes are selected from 30 to 40-year-old vines from Bodegas LAN's long-standing suppliers in the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa subzones. Sloped plots of calcareous-clay soils with good drainage and sun exposure give grapes of excellent concentration.

Upon arrival at the winery the grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28°C. Maceration in contact with the grape skins lasted for 15 days, with daily pumping over for maximum extraction of colour and aromatics. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for 14 months in hybrid oak barrels: French oak heads and American oak staves. The wine was then bottled and aged for nine months in the Bodegas LAN cellars before release.