Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta was founded in 1895 by Félix Martínez Lacuesta, a lawyer, journalist, and winemaker in Haro, Spain. His overarching quest was to improve the quality of Rioja wines, and under the tutelage of French winemakers, Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta became a benchmark of Rioja wines.

The Martinez Lacuesta Crianza is 100% Tempranillo from the winery’s estate vineyards in Haro, in the heart of the Rioja Alta region. Ripe fruit predominates: raspberries, cherries, strawberries over balsamic, vanilla, toasted caramel, and sweet mint. Elegance, finesse and subtlety are trademarks of this refined wine. Natural processes have driven the winery since its founding — hand-picking, natural fermentation and manual racking. Aged for two years in American oak and decanted four times using a traditional gravity method, the subsequent ageing in bottles is one of the keys to the production of these classic wines. A fresh and authentic wine is the result.

“Pepe Hildalgo and Álvaro Martínez use grapes from Haro and Villalba, close to the winery, to produce this serious, well-structured all-Tempranillo Crianza. Juicy and concentrated, with liquorice and blueberry flavours and stylishly integrated American oak. 2023-27”
90 points, Tim Atkin, Tim Atkin’s Rioja Report, 2023