Lanzaga (Telmo Rodríguez) Rioja Tabuérniga 2018

98+ points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): “The 2018 Tabuerniga is from one of the most beautiful vineyards in Rioja, a terraced place that is located at 540 to 630 meters in altitude and is farmed organically. It fermented in open-top oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in 1,500-liter oak foudres for 14 to 16 months following the most strict tradition. The wine is superb, subtle, elegant and refined, still a little young and closed but with a sense of harmony, depth and seriousness that puts it among the finest vintages for this wine. The palate is lively and vibrant, with purity and harmony; it’s delineated, symmetric and seamless, with a silky palate. This is simply superb and develops further complexity with time in the glass, flowers a touch of meat and blood. This is my go-to wine from the single-vineyard bottlings. 3,924 bottles were filled in May 2020. Drink: 2021-2034. (Aug 2021)”

98 points James Suckling: “This shows a solid core of fruit with such purity, offering blackberries, black cherries and dark chocolate (subtle). Full-bodied, but really refined and tight with precision and length. Incredibly deep and long. Energetic. Mostly tempranillo. From organically grown grapes. Needs at least five years to open. (10/14/21)”