Bodegas LECEA Chardonnay White Wine 2020
Bodega LECEA represented by EpicureVin

Bodegas LECEA Chardonnay White Wine 2020

"10 months in French oak barrels" - very enjoyable white wine

SUMMARY: This white wine is made from selected Chardonnay grapes in a traditional way by destemming, preserving it in French oak barrels for a minimum of 10 months. Straw to yellow in colour, bright, with a hue marked by the exact touch of French oak. Intense and persistent aroma of fruit varieties. On the palate it is a wine with volume, intense, pleasant and structured.

159,00 DKK

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

YEAR: 2020

ALCOHOL: 13.5%.

GRAPE VARIETY: Chardonnay 100%.

CLASSIFICATION: Special Wine.

CORK: Natural cork 45mm.

ELABORATION: This refined Chardonnay begins with carefully selected grapes that undergo traditional destemming before embarking on a remarkable aging journey. The wine spends a minimum of 10 months in French oak barrels, developing complexity while maintaining varietal character.
What truly sets this wine apart is its maturation environment - historic underground cellars carved from 16th-century ashlar stone. These remarkable caves extend 14 meters below ground, naturally maintaining a consistent 13°C temperature year-round - ideal conditions for optimal wine development. Here, the wine rests in a combination of wooden barrels and concrete vats, a harmonious blend of traditional and modern winemaking techniques that connects past and present.
These historic cellars, silent witnesses to centuries of winemaking tradition, provide more than just perfect aging conditions - they represent a living connection to ancestral winemaking customs. The marriage of these time-honored spaces with careful modern vinification creates a Chardonnay that bridges generations of winemaking expertise.

TASTING NOTES

VISUAL PHASE: The wine presents an elegant brilliant straw yellow color with exceptional clarity. Its bright, crystalline appearance is enhanced by subtle golden reflections - a testament to its 10 months in French oak. The color intensity perfectly reflects the careful barrel aging while maintaining varietal freshness. When swirled, the wine forms refined tears along the glass, indicating both its body and the harmonious oak integration.

OLFACTORY PHASE: The nose reveals a sophisticated layering of aromas, led by pronounced stone fruit characters. Ripe peach notes mingle harmoniously with tropical fruit nuances - fresh pineapple and subtle banana create an exotic profile. The wine's great aromatic potential unfolds gradually in the glass, each swirl revealing new dimensions. The 10 months in French oak barrels provide subtle support to the fruit expression, adding complexity without overshadowing the wine's natural character.

TASTE PHASE: The wine graces the palate with an immediately pleasing, rich texture that creates a luxurious mouthfeel. The mid-palate shows impressive unctuousness, where ripe fruit flavors take center stage while staying perfectly balanced with subtle oak-derived toasted notes. The moderate acidity provides just enough freshness and structure to complement the wine's generous character. The finish is both mellow and persistent, creating a harmonious conclusion where fruit and subtle oak notes linger elegantly.

SERVING TEMPERATURE: Chilled, between 9°C and 11°C.

GASTRONOMY: The LECEA Chardonnay's bright acidity, stone fruit notes, and subtle oak influence make it exceptionally versatile with food. Its crisp freshness pairs beautifully with seafood dishes like grilled salmon, seared scallops, and shrimp scampi. The wine also complements roasted poultry, especially when herbs like thyme or rosemary are used. For pasta, try it with cream or butter-based sauces - the wine's body matches these dishes wonderfully. Soft cow's milk cheeses like triple cream Brie or aged Comté make for delightful pairings too. Serve this Chardonnay slightly chilled around (9-11°C) to fully appreciate its refreshing character and delicious flavors. While ready to enjoy immediately, allowing the wine to breathe for 15-20 minutes will help its aromatics shine.

image in image with text

How to Taste and Truly Understand Wine?

Tasting wine is an art that involves all your senses, offering a journey of discovery. Here are four key steps to guide you:

  • The Visual Experience (Visual Phase) - Color, Clarity, Cleaneness of wine, "Wine Legs"...
  • The Aroma (Olfactory Phase) - Bring the glass to your nose and take a deep breath...
  • The Taste (Palate Phase) - Take a sip and let the wine flow across your palate...
  • The Grape Variety: The Soul of the Wine - Grape varieties are regarded among the most crucial elements in differentiating wines...

At EpicureVin, we believe tasting wine should be as enjoyable as discovering its story. Each bottle we offer invites you to embark on a sensory journey, uncovering hidden gems that make every sip memorable.

image in image with text

The Visual Experience (Visual Phase)

Begin by examining the wine in your glass. Observe its color - is it pale straw, golden, ruby, or deep purple? Notice its clarity - a clear, bright wine often signals quality. Swirl the glass gently, watching its transparency and how it catches the light. Each of these visual cues can hint at the wine’s age, grape variety, or even its origin!

Pay attention to the wine legs - the streaks that form on the inside of the glass after swirling. While they don’t indicate quality, they can reveal the wine’s alcohol and sugar content. Watching how the legs form and flow offers clues about the wine's richness and body, enhancing your appreciation before the first sip.

image in image with text

The Aroma (Olfactory Phase)

Bring the glass to your nose and take a deep breath. Start broad - what families of aromas can you identify?
For white wines: Do you notice citrus, tropical, or orchard fruits?
For red wines: Are the aromas leaning towards red fruits, blue fruits, or darker black fruits?
Avoid overanalyzing at first; let the scents unfold naturally. As you grow familiar, you’ll start recognizing subtler notes like spices, herbs, or even earthy tones that reveal the wine's character.

image in image with text

The Taste (Palate Phase)

Take a sip and let the wine flow across your palate. Notice how it interacts with different parts of your mouth:

  • Is it vibrant and zesty, or rich and smooth?
  • Does it feel balanced, with flavors lingering elegantly after you swallow?

A great wine tells its story through texture, structure, and harmony - this is what elevates the experience.

image in image with text

The Grape Variety: The Soul of the Wine

Every wine begins with a grape, and its variety is the key to understanding its personality. In Rioja, Spain, a region renowned for its winemaking tradition, there are five red grape varieties and nine white grape varieties that form the foundation of its exceptional wines.

The red grapes include Tempranillo, the backbone of Rioja reds, known for its balance and elegance; Garnacha Tinta, offering bold fruitiness; Graciano, prized for its intensity and structure; Mazuelo (also known as Carignan), adding vibrant acidity; and Maturana Tinta, a lesser-known variety with a unique earthy character.

For white wines, Rioja showcases Viura (or Macabeo), celebrated for its fresh and floral notes; Malvasía, with its aromatic richness; Garnacha Blanca, offering citrus and herbal nuances; Tempranillo Blanco, a rare mutation of the red Tempranillo; Maturana Blanca, one of the region's oldest varieties; Turruntés, not to be confused with the Argentine grape; Chardonnay, bringing international appeal; Sauvignon Blanc, adding crispness; and Verdejo, contributing vibrant flavors and minerality.

EpicureVin is here to help you the exploration of these grape varieties, where you will be able to unlock the secrets behind Rioja's rich diversity of flavors and textures, discovering wines that capture the soul of this historic region.

A Legacy of Passion and Dreams

Passion for Family

Since 1583, our family’s dedication has been the heart of our winemaking, passed down through generations.

Passion for the Earth

Nurtured by the clay-limestone soils that have supported our growth, we honor the land that gives us its best year after year.

Passion for Wine

Every bottle we create holds three essential elements: the warmth of the sun, the richness of the earth, and the craftsmanship of the winemaker.

Passion for the Origins

Proud to be one of Spain’s most celebrated wineries in the Art and Culture category, we remain deeply rooted in our heritage.

Passion for Dreams

Life is made of simple joys, and wine is one of them. Let’s embark on this extraordinary journey together, with EpicureVin and Familia Valdelana, where every sip tells a story.

FAMILIA VALDELANA

Savor Tradition and Innovation in Every Sip

At Bodegas LECEA, we take pride in crafting wines that embody the essence of our heritage and the innovation of modern winemaking. From our own meticulously tended vineyards, we select the oldest vines to create our most exceptional wines.

What sets us apart is the seamless blend of tradition and technology. Our wines benefit from advanced techniques like controlled-temperature fermentation and automated pumping over, while staying true to time-honored practices. Deep within our 16th-century underground cellars, we preserve and age our wines with the utmost care.

A true highlight is our "Corazón de Lago," a carbonic maceration wine born from history itself. Produced using an ancient stone press and lovingly trodden by foot, it captures the spirit of artisanal winemaking.

Now, thanks to EpicureVin and Bodegas LECEA, you can experience these extraordinary wines in the comfort of your home. Raise a glass and celebrate the passion, tradition, and innovation poured into every bottle.

BODEGAS LECEA

A Vision Rooted in Sustainability and Excellence

At Bodegas FINCA BARRONTE, our unwavering commitment to excellence drives everything we do. Since 2020, we have embraced organic farming, producing wines free from residue while enhancing the resilience of our vineyards and refining the tasting notes of our creations.

Nestled in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, between Villabuena de Álava and Samaniego, our estate spans nine hectares of clay-limestone soils, home to Tempranillo, Graciano, Viura, and Malvasia vines. This unique terroir, coupled with our dedication to low-yield farming and ecological responsibility, allows us to craft wines of unparalleled character and quality.

From our modern yet tradition-honoring winery, with its innovative three-level design, to our commitment to renewable energy and sustainable practices, we strive to safeguard the future of our land. With eight distinct wines, each offering its own story, we invite you to join Bodegas FINCA BARRONTE and EpicureVin in celebrating a shared passion for sustainability, heritage, and exceptional wine.

JOSE BASOCO