2022-C Izadi 'Larrosa' Rose, Rioja DOC, Spain (750ml)
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A Seasonal Rosé Wine Club Selection
The Larrosa rosé is sourced entirely from head-pruned Garnacha planted in the early 1960s in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria at nearly 800 meters above sea level. The combination of elevation and chalky soils ensures these vines produce an elegant, vibrant and fresh wine. Hand harvested, the grapes were destemmed, the free run juice was fermented in stainless-steel tanks, and aged an additional 3 months in tank, prior to bottling. Vegan.
Soft peach hue. Aromas of apricot, citrus peel and chalk. Flavors of yellow peach, pear, Rainier cherry. The pale is bright and juicy, with persistent acid, a chalky mineral component and a lovely, textural finish. Mouthwatering, clean and delicate, this charming rosé is sure to please.
The Anton Family founded Izadi in 1987 after years of managing both vineyards in Villabuena de Alaba and multiple restaurants, including the one-star Michelin restaurant Zaldiaran in Vitoria. The transition from a culinary family to one that also embraced winemaking began in 1997 when Don Gonzalo Anton hired Mariano Garcia (the former technical director of Vega Sicilia and the current director of Aalto in Ribera del Duero) to assess their vineyards and help construct a cellar to make their own wines. Located in Rioja Alavesa, Izadi produces expressive wines from varieties indigenous to Rioja: Viura, Malvasía, Garnacha Blanco and Tinto, Tempranillo Blanco and Tinto, Graciano, and Mazuelo.
Izadi owns 72 hectares of vineyards and contracts another 108 from neighboring growers. The vineyard plots are located within a triangle formed by the towns of Villabuena, Samaniego, and Ábalos—hence the triangle on their labels. Farming is sustainable with many organic practices as they are currently in the process of converting all their farming to certified organic. The average age of their vines is over 50 years old, planted in a mix of sandy clays and clay-limestone soils, typical of the vineyards at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria. Stylistically they adhere to a middle ground between tradition and modernism, valuing the elegance of the former married to the fruit-forward qualities of the latter. Winemaker Ruth Rodriguez taps into this balance to create wines that are flavorful yet refined, modern, and elegant.