Viña Lanciano 1970 Gran Reserva

Wine: Viña Lanciano 1970 Gran Reserva

Winery: Bodegas LAN (Fuenmayor, La Rioja)
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo
ABV: 12.5% 

Winemaking
The wine spent 18 months in tanks followed by an aging period of 30 to 36 months in 225-liter French and American oak barrels. It then rested in the winery's subterranean cellars (calados) for 96 months prior to its commercial release in 1984. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Ruby-red of low depth; clean with reddish and orange highlights and a brick-colored rim.

 

Nose: High intensity—powerful, very mature, and toasted. It reveals notes of charcoal and black truffle, leaf litter, and wine-soaked wood in the background, with hints of caramelized sugar and toffee. Elegant and smooth. 

 

Palate: Dry, broad, and deeply spiced. A balanced and well-rounded red featuring bitter nuances and sufficient acidity. It is exceptionally approachable, showing a classical profile yet infused with modern accents that were unprecedented for its time. Smooth, elegant, and light; vanillic with red fruit in liqueur. A true pleasure to drink. 

 

Personal Score: 92
Price: 40 €

The 1970 Vintage: A Mythical Harvest

The 1970 vintage is officially rated as "Very Good" (MB) by the Rioja Regulatory Board. It produced 113 million liters during a 195-day vegetative cycle, following a cold and humid winter. Flowering was delayed, but the region avoided late spring frosts. The summer was warm and humid, with some localized hail in early June. Northern winds predominated throughout the season. A mild autumn encouraged a very late leaf fall, allowing for optimal ripening.

 

Today, 1970 is considered a legendary vintage, as it continues to showcase remarkable color stability, aromatic development, and complexity on the palate. Great vintages are defined by their ability to age while retaining a sense of youth, and 1970 is undoubtedly one of those unforgettable years. Its reputation was further bolstered by the subsequent difficult harvests of 1971 and 1972. It remains a historical benchmark and one of the few vintages still available that rivals the level of the mythical 1964.