Lur is the first and only wine of El Conjuro del Ciego, a new winery located in Elciego's centuries-old wine-making district, where the owners have restored and modernised some ancient caves hewn into the rock, and equipped the new installations with contemporary gravity-flow systems for production purposes. The fruit emanates from 4.5 ha of vineyards, on the El Conjuro and Coxera (Rioja Alavesa) estates, with the vines over 80 years old and grown in bush formation, solely of the Tempranillo variety.
This fusion of antiquity and modernity can be savoured too in the wine. Conceived as a Reserva wine, made without haste, it initially reminds us of a classic, traditional Rioja, due to its freshness and elegance, due to the ripeness of those red-fruit berries and smoky undertones, with a touch of saltiness even; it reminds us of a 'fine wine' because of the ease with which it can be drunk, yet it is definitely not a classic, but rather a good present-day Rioja, with the profile of a modern wine, controlled, without an excessive amount of concentration, a good Tempranillo from the Rioja Alavesa, fruity and intense, mineral and balsamic.
If we observe it in the glass, its Picota cherry colour is bright, but brick-red hues are already showing up on the rim; of medium intensity. On the nose, it offers a plentiful array of fruit sensations, essentially red fruit (raspberries) but also black (blackberries), fruits in liqueur and fresh fruit; as well as earthy notes, black liquorice, touches of dampness (leather), dry wafts (bay leaves), balsamic hints (eucalyptus)...; its complexity is quite remarkable and it's very well-balanced overall, and most especially, very fresh. The same sensations picked up by the nose are repeated on the palate, where it proves lovely and rounded, medium-bodied yet juicy and with silky tannins. It's a pleasure to hold it on the tongue, savouring it, forthright and persistent. Open the bottle an hour beforehand to let it breathe, and it will reveal all its merits for your imbibing pleasure.
A serious wine, undoubtedly with the character of a Rioja, obviously a Tempranillo, deeply rooted in the land which confers its identity, Lur, meaning 'Land' in Basque. A terroir wine, a wine very much from its own land.
NOTE: Over time natural sediment may appear, in which case decanting would be advisable. This sediment will not affect the wine's quality.
