Rioja Las Beatas, Bodega Lanzaga 2023

Consistently among Rioja’s elite reds – and priced accordingly – Las Beatas is as close as the region comes to the ethereal finesse of a Grand Cru Burgundy. Made with ten red and white varieties, built around a core of 50% Tempranillo, it has top notes of thyme and rose petal, a palate of grapefruit, raspberry, black olive and goji berry, granular tannins and a finish that glides across the palate.

Very absorbing aromas of violets, blueberries and sloe berries. The palate is delineated, medium bodied with polished, focused chalky tannins. It has this very fluid particular texture, this sense of elegant almost ethereal fruit it always has. It’s succulent and expressive, with subtle chewiness from precise tannins and a savory touch in the finish.