Rioja Tempranillo Lacrimus 2003 is a limited edition Crianza from Spain. It has intense dark cherry-red color with garnet hues that are underscored by purple gleams reflecting its persistent freshness and aging potential. Aromas of mint and licorice are lightly overshadowed by notes of ripe red fruit and hints of pastry. Round and meaty in the mouth it has good tannins and a very persistent long finish. This Rioja Tempranillo is very intense and complex to the nose, with an initial waft of spicy and balsamic aromas against a background of ripe fruit. The wine then opens up, revealing the Tempranillo's hints of licorice enhanced by a subtle touch from aging in oak casks. The wood is well integrated and fruit dominates at all times. It's complete and round with surprising silkiness and elegance. A long finish with very ripe tannins will have you wanting more and more. It's truly a world class wine for those who enjoy the best Rioja has to offer. It is the ideal companion for stews, red meat and game. Also a perfect match for cured cheese as dessert. Only 32,500 bottles were produced and each limited edition bottle has its own serial number. Drink through 2011.

The Valsanzo family has been involved in winemaking for a few generations, making their classic Spanish wines in Nava del Rey which, following aging in the barrel in Rioja, are transferred to it in demijohns. They make the same great wines from grapes cultivated in different regions of Spain. Their Tempranillo wines are part of the winemaking history of the region, but there are only a few winemakers left who still keep alive the art of these fine red wines. In this wine they use the Tempranillo grapes from Rioja while respecting the utmost expression of the grape variety and the terroir. The soil typology of Rioja is as varied as the climatic influence and is the result of the confluence of different river basins. The soil in their estate at Pagos del Encinaris is chalky-clay with a high density of stones. The vineyard has 45 hectares at an altitude of 530 metres, and produces a limited amount of grapes. Part of the vineyard is planted with Tempranillo vines with an age of around 35 years and the rest is Graciano with ages ranging between 5 and 15 years. Due to its altitude and latitude, it is one of the estates with the greatest temperature contrast in La Rioja, which favors the build-up of polyphenols in the grapes. The bodega is technologically equipped to preserve all the properties of the grape in terms of both fermentation and the aging process. Using new technological processes they achieve superior polymerisation and preservation of the fruity aromas. In the aging process, Valsanzo seeks both polymerisation and a balance between fruit and wood, as well as complexity and personality. To achieve these objectives, they use selected American and Hungarian oak casks, the latter having been specially chosen in the Tokaji woods. This combination gives the wine a very distinct personality.

RATINGS: 87 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine
"Light strawberry, leather and tomato leaf aromas all come together to form a true, traditional crianza bouquet. The palate is also in that vein, showing apple skin, red plum and strawberry flavors. With a hint of butter and drying tannins coming on late, this fits squarely into the mold of traditional Rioja crianza."