94 Punkte James Suckling - 01. Dezember 2016
Aromas of crushed dark fruits with hints of pine needles and underbrush. Full and powerful palate underlying a sense of elegance. Polished tannins. Made from old head-pruned vines in the village of Lanciego in Rioja. Not as great as the 2010 but clearly outstanding. Drink now but better in 2018.
95 Parker Punkte - 31. August 2016 Luiz Gutierrez
There is an extra degree of elegance, precision and focus in the 2012 Altos de Lanzaga compared with the regular Lanzaga from that same year. It is produced from four small plots of over 70-year-old vines at 500-600 meters altitude, planted on very poor soils that are biodynamically farmed. It fermented in 3.000-kilo oak vats for 20 days with indigenous yeasts and matured in 1.500-liter oak foudres and 225-liter barriques for some 18 months. The nose might be a little reticent at first, quite subtle, serious, balanced, a little backward. There is great balance, very fine tannins and very good freshness. This wine is very tasty, combining elegance and power. This is a very good vintage of Altos, with enough stuffing and balance to age magnificently in bottle. 2.500 bottles were filled in June 2014.