Izadi Larrosa Rioja Negra 2022
Izadi Larrosa Rioja Negra
Region: Rioja, Spain
Vintage: 2022
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Garnacha
ABV: 14.5%
Bright ruby in appearance, The nose is bursting with vibrant red fruit perfume and floral notes of lavender and wild herbs. On the palate, the oak is neatly integrated with a juicy fruit core, hints of allspice and chalky tannins.
The grapes for this Garnacha were sourced from old bush-trained vines, planted in 1975. The vineyards sit at 700 metres above sea level, meaning the grapes benefit from warm days followed by cool nights and undergo a perfectly paced, slow ripening. This allows them to accumulate great intensity of flavour whilst retaining acidity. The soils are a combination of chalk, clay and pebbles. These old vines are low yielding, around 5 tonnes per hectare, but the fruit that they produce is extremely concentrated.
The fruit was hand harvested. The grapes were destemmed. Fermentation and malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks and the wine was aged for six months in a combination of second and third fill 50% French and 50% American oak barrels to enhance the wine’s texture and impart further aromatic complexity.
Owned and run by Lalo Antón and his family, Izadi, which means ‘nature’ in the Basque language, is a project rooted in a passion for gastronomy and wine. The estate was founded in 1987 by Gonzalo Antón, Lalo’s father, who, at the age of 37 and with a background in restaurants, decided to create his own winery with the aim of producing modern, perfumed, food-friendly wines that are true to their roots and a natural expression of the area. As well as the winery, the family also run the Michelin-starred restaurant, Zaldiaran, in nearby Vitoria.
https://izadi.com