The Good Juice

For this edition of The Good Juice we have selected one wine from the Old World and another that is done in Old World style. The Vina Lanciano from Bodegas Lan is a beautifully elegant wine from a vineyard of the same name located in Rioja Alta, Spain. The Radford Dale Gravity from Stellenbosch, South Africa is made in very limited quantities, combining the attributes of proven traditional methods with modern viticulture and instinctive winemaking. The wine is aptly described by the phrase “the best of both worlds”.

Winery of Good Hope, 2004 Radford-Dale Gravity $48.95

The Radford-Dale Gravity is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. Each parcel of these vines is situated on ocean-facing, mountainous slopes of the premium Stellenbosch Appellation. These relatively cooler maritime areas of Stellenbosch benefit from the cooling influence of the ocean, the sanitizing breezes and the temperate altitude. Yields were kept low and all grapes are hand-picked and rigorously hand-selected over a sorting table. Not a single grape finds its way into this wine unintentionally. 2004 was a hot and dry summer. Good canopy management was important to ensure that the grapes did not suffer from sunburn or raisining, while retaining natural acidity and keeping sugars from soaring. The cold and rainy spell towards the end of vintage pushed back the Cabernet harvest and allowed for better balance and enhanced physical condition of the fruit.

According to the winery they have strived for equilibrium; between natural sweetness of fruit and integration of structure. Each varietal is counted on to contribute its unique facets; the Cabernet its blueberry backbone and dense, ripe tannins; the Merlot its deep red-berry fruit and suave mouth-feel; the Shiraz its persevering spiciness and its gutsy, supple body. All knitted together by patient, careful maturation. This wine bears the hallmark of the region it was reared in and the mineral soils in which it has its roots. The wine has impressive depth, complexity and intensity, yet with finesse and genuine class. By definition, production will always be highly limited; there were only 780 cases of this wine produced in 2004.

I opened up a bottle of the Gravity over the weekend with some friends and family. Dinner that evening was Chateaubriand with goat cheese scalloped potatoes. I really don’t think that you need look any further for a food pairing that works.

Bodegas Lan, 2001 Vina Lanciano Reserva $36.95

Founded in 1972 by an important business group, Bodegas Lan is now one of the most dynamic wineries in the D.O.C. Rioja and probably the one achieving, over the last few years, more success and acknowledgement by wine experts and critics, both national and international. The founders on purchasing the company also bought a very special vineyard, Vina Lanciano, which stands on the banks of the river Ebro, where Rioja Alta meets Rioja Alavesa. This 70 hectare vineyard has the perfect soil for the production of quality Rioja, rich alluvial soil covered by small pebbles. The vines are between 20 to 25 years old and the special microclimate of the vineyard contributes to the optimum ripening of outstanding grapes.

The wine is typically aged in American oak barrels for 2 years followed by at least another year in bottles. The result is a wine that possesses a brilliant black-cherry colour with violet borders and fresh primary aromas. On the palate you will find sweet, mature tannins. Very balanced, harmonic with a long pleasant finish. The following review appeared in the November 1, 2007 issue of the Wine Enthusiast: “From what will go down as a legendary vintage, the’01 Lanciano is a full-boned but elegant wine with deftly balanced aromas of chocolate, mint, graphite and berry compote. The feeling is satisfying and chewy, while the flavours of cherry cola, black plum are pure and lasting. Good now through 2012. Tempranillo with 20% Mazuelo.”

I also had the opportunity to try this wine on the weekend. I would suggest that you may want to decant the wine for a period of time before it is served to allow the nose and all of the flavours to evolve. This is a beautiful soft, elegant wine that can be paired with lighter fare; you might even try grilled salmon with mushrooms and sweet onions.

How to order

Phone: 416-598-0033 extension 243 to speak directly with Allan Leal, or you can
E-mail him at aleal@profilewinegroup.com

All orders are COD. Payment can be made by Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or cheque. Your credit card will not be charged until the product is shipped.

Minimum Orders: There is a one case minimum order (12 bottles unless otherwise noted).

Delivery to a single destination within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is free of charge. Delivery outside of the GTA can be arranged.

You must be 19 years of age or older to place or receive a wine order.