Ukan 2021

UKAN 2021 is a high-quality red from Rioja Alavesa, Spain. It's made by Ukan Winery, a fifth-generation project of the prestigious Eguren family, based in Laguardia.

The Wine Advocate
RP 93

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

The 2021 Ukan is the Tempranillo selection from three vineyards in Laguardia. They were fermented separately and then blended. It's a ripe wine with 14.5% alcohol, but keeps very good freshness, balance and acidity, suggesting full development of aroma and flavour compounds in the grapes and a more harmonious, complex and nuanced wine. Fermentation was in concrete with selected yeasts and the wine aged in 225-litre oak barrels for 16 months. It's clean, modern and ripe without excess, with well-integrated oak and elegant, fine tannins. 16,693 bottles and 400 magnums were produced. It was bottled in June 2023.

Ukan Winery is the project of Koldo Eguren, who has 9.5 hectares of old vines in Laguardia and the surrounding villages of Elvillar, Lapuebla and Elciego, among others. In 2023 consultant Bequer Prieto and winemaker Iñaki Magaña joined, and they began introducing 400- and 500-litre oak barrels, gradually replacing the 225-litre ones. It's a small project, producing 35,000 bottles.

In 2020 they reduced barrel time, as it was a warmer year than 2019 and they wanted more approachable wines with less spicy, oaky character. The 2020 wines are already quite approachable. 2021 was a cooler, more classic year.

Published: 29 February 2024

Tim Atkin:

"I'm looking for ageing potential," says Koldo Eguren of this perfumed, well-structured Tempranillo from two plots in Laguardia, Valderromán and El Estado, planted in 1945 and 1966 respectively. Aged in one-third new wood, it's a focused, layered style with classic aromas of rose petals and violets, chalky intensity, plum and blueberry fruit and vigorous tannins. 2024-32.