Bodegas Luis Canas Seleccion De La Familia Rioja Reserva

In 1970 Luis Cañas changed two hundred years of tradition and became the first winemaker in Rioja Alavesa to bottle his young wine rather than sell it as bulk.

This bold move, and his continued pioneering spirit, has cemented the winery's enviable reputation as one of the most progressive in the region. Sheltered below the watchful Sierra Cantabria, the vineyards are all old, small plots on chalky-clay soils with a dedicated team of vineyard workers carrying out organic practices and a purpose built, fully equipped accommodation block was built for the entire vineyard team in 2006.

Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon

With 350 hectares of outstanding vineyards, split across 870 different plots, the viticultural department control every aspect. Each of the plots has its own personality and is categorised and used for different wines according to its characteristics. Vines are situated on slopes and terraces of limestone and clay soil, well exposed to the sun, and are at least 45 years old.

85% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Upon entering the Bodega, the grapes were cold macerated for 72 hours. Fermentation at 26º C in sealed cement tanks under temperature control, with the must pumped over daily. 100% of the wine is aged in new, medium toasted American and French oak. The total period in barrels is 20 months. After the final racking, it is clarified, decanted and bottled directly without any type of filtration. Because this wine’s evolutionary cycle is quite slow, only corks of the highest quality available are used to ensure long ageing potential.

A beautiful ruby colour. A clean nose with good intensity. Complex aromas of leather, ripe sweet fruit and herbs over a base of fine oak. Palate: Potent and juicy with structure and good tenacity. The finish shows lots of spice and is ample, complex, long and persistent.

Best served with pasta dishes, roasted lamb and beef, stews and poultry.

Tim Atkin Rioja Report 2024 92 Points
One of only a handful of wines in Rioja that contains Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a stylish, well-judged blend of the Bordeaux grape with 85% Tempranillo. Graphite and blackcurrant leaf aromas add an extra dimension to the red berry and bramble fruit here framed by equal proportions of French and American oak.

Nolan - Text from the Spotlight on Tempranillo Blog

For our first Tempranillo, we start off in one of Tempranillo’s heartlands, Rioja. This world-renowned region in Northern Spain was actually Spain’s first ever designated area for quality viticulture. Being awarded DO, (Denominación de Origen) status in 1933, it was then also the first region to be elevated to DOCa, (Denominación de Origen Calificada) status in 1991 when the category was created. Only two areas in Spain have been granted DOCa status, the other being Priorat.

Protected to the North by the Cantabrian mountains against the cold and wet influence of the nearby Atlantic, Rioja has been producing wine for several millennia stretching back to the Roman’s. Rioja’s production and fame grew steadily but it got its big break when the phylloxera louse devastated the vineyards of France, particularly Bordeaux. Bordeaux merchants and wine makers moved to Spain, upping quality and kickstarting the love affair in the region for oak. Wine exports increased…until phylloxera moved in…but by then Rioja was known around the world.

The wine I have chosen to showcase Rioja is from Luis Cañas in the sub region of Rioja Alvasia, this area along with the more obviously named, Rioja Alta, is the home of the highest altitude vineyards in the wider Rioja area. Altitude is important, this is where we see the extended diurnal range mentioned earlier come into play. I have chosen this wine, not only because it is delicious, but also because it is iconic. Luis Cañas was the first producer in the region to actually bottle its own wine rather than sell it in bulk. As with many Rioja wines, this is a blend. 85% Tempranillo blended with 15% “other” grapes. The other being Cabernet Sauvignon which is illegal in Rioja! Don’t panic though, as Luis Cañas planted Cabby before it was outlawed meaning they have special permission to cultivate and use it in their wines.

Graphite and blackcurrant leaf aromas add an extra dimension to the red berry and bramble fruit here, framed by equal proportions of French and American oak, this is a winner for pairing with spring lamb!