The 2001 Lealtanza Gran Reserva spent 24 months in French and American oak. 100% Tempranillo from 50+-year-old vines, this dark ruby-colored wine has an alluring nose of cedar, cigar box, leather, black cherry, and blackberry. Spicy, sweetly-fruited, silky, and elegant on the palate, it has excellent depth, plenty of complexity, and a lengthy finish. It does a fine job of melding the traditional and modern styles of Rioja. Drink it from 2011 to 2021.
Importer: The Artisan Collection, New York, NY; tel. (212) 608-0722