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Telmo Rodriguez Lanzaga Tempranillo 2007 The Rioja vineyards for Telmo Rodriguez’ wines are in the eastern part of the region, in Lanciego. It is here, on the clay and calcerous slopes, that some of the most interesting vineyards of Rioja coexist with hundred year old olive groves. Descendents of the same families that pruned these vines over two centuries still work in the bush vine vineyards, using the same methods of cultivation. Telmo’s wines come from a combination of estate vineyards (and in the case of Altos de Lanzaga, exclusively estate vineyards), and those of growers in the area who cultivate under Telmo’s supervision.  Lanzaga, the middle Telmo wine from Rioja, exhibits the character of the Lanciego vineyard’s fruit: a beautiful cohabitation of strength and elegance. Lanzaga exhibits the character of the Lanciego vineyard’s fruit: a beautiful cohabitation of strength and elegance. A blend of 95% Tempranillo, 3% Garnacha, and 2% Graciano, the grapes for Lanzaga come from slopes that are protected from erosion by the vineyard plantings. The vineyards are placed between 500 and 600 meters of altitude on plateaus over continental Miocene sandstone strata. These flat, stony, shallow soils offer low fertility and low water retention capacity, and force the bush-trained vines to stuggle, ensuring low yields. After harvest, the wine is fermented in cement tanks and matured for 14 months in oak foudres and then French oak barrels.