In the glass
Aroma: red and black cherry, cedar, tobacco, spice
Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, mineral
The family's old-vine selection Reserva: polished and savoury with fine tannins, drawing on the estate's oldest Alavesa parcels.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register. -
Roast partridge
Game and the wine's tobacco depth align.
How to serve Luis Canas Reserva de Familia
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Reserva de Familia is the old-vine selection above the standard Reserva.
- 1991 — Reserva de Familia established
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Luis Canas
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (15%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 20 months in French oak
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 25 to 45 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 22 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1991
Scores
- Tim Atkin 93 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Luis Canas Reserva de Familia
What does Luis Canas Reserva de Familia taste like?
On the nose, red and black cherry, cedar, tobacco, spice. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, mineral. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The family's old-vine selection Reserva: polished and savoury with fine tannins, drawing on the estate's oldest Alavesa parcels.
When should I drink Luis Canas Reserva de Familia?
Drink 6 to 22 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Luis Canas Reserva de Familia?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Luis Canas Reserva de Familia vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Luis Canas Reserva de Familia?
The blend is Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (15%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.