Spain La Rioja Rioja La Rioja Alta S.A.

La Rioja Alta S.A - Gran Reserva 890

97 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
La Rioja Alta S.A - Gran Reserva 890 - 2005 - 75cl - Onshore Cellars
Spain La Rioja Rioja La Rioja Alta S.A.

La Rioja Alta S.A - Gran Reserva 890

97 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
Vintage
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They were eager to show me their 2010 Gran Reserva 890, their flagship wine from one of the most heralded vintages of recent times, the next vintage of this wine since 2005. It's 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo that fermented destemmed and crushed with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats for 18 days, the Tempranillo and Mazuelo together and the Graciano separately. After letting the wine settle for the winter, they selected the lots that would age for six years in used American oak barrels with 10 manual rackings. The wine epitomizes the classical style of Rioja Alta with long aging in barrel, developed and tertiary wines with a silky palate and a complex and decadent nose of forest floor, truffles, cigar ash and cedar wood. They need a very special selection of vineyards at higher altitude that take longer to ripen, and they don't do it fully every year. If they don't, the grapes go to Ardanza, but in 2010, the days were warm and the nights very cold and the grapes ripened thoroughly and could stand the long time in barrel without being oaky. They have stopped the last rackings to keep a little more freshness, and the wine feels phenomenal. This has to be one of the finest vintages for this wine. It's drinkable now but should also age for a very long time; it's intense, complex and elegant. A selection of 236 barrels were blended and bottled unfiltered in March 2017 into 61,643 bottles, 4,189 magnums and some larger formats. There will be a 2011 of this wine and then 2015 and possibly 2016 (but no 2012, 2013 or 2014). This is a very intense 890. Classicism in a bottle
The 2005 La Rioja Alta S.A Gran Reserva 890 is ruby-red with an incipient brick rim. Classic aroma. Intense, with notes of cured leather, stewed plums and raisins, tobacco and sweet spices, vanilla, and dark chocolate. Elegant, mature, complex mouthfeel. Outstanding structure and well-balanced acidity with silky tannins. Its classic Rioja bouquet stands out big, complex, and round, with an elegant finish.
The 2004 Gran Reserva 890 is the top of the range here, a wine that is only released three/four times per decade in exceptional years. They start by sourcing grapes from their oldest vineyards and going through a slow process of aging the wine in American oak barrels for six years, with ten manual racking’s, and each time there is a selection of only the best barrels. The nose is all about forest floor aromas, game, cigar ash, incense, old furniture, and some smoked meat. The palate shows very fresh with slightly dusty tannins and nice acidity. It's polished but feels livelier than some older vintages.
The 2001 is a great vintage for all the wines from La Rioja Alta but the long-awaited 2001 Gran Reserva 890 is otherworldly. The wine ferments with the natural yeasts attached to the grapes in stainless steel vats and is aged for six years in used American oak barrels with 12 manual racking’s. A darker shade of red and a somehow backward and reticent nose (relatively speaking) of forest floor, cold bonfire, antique shop, truffles, game, sandalwood, nutmeg, and clove. The fruit is also a little darker and the palate more austere, but still showing vibrant and supple, with clean flavours and a great finish.
Type:
 Red
Country:
 Spain
Region:
 La Rioja
Appellation:
 Rioja
Producer:
 La Rioja Alta S.A.
Grapes/Blend:
 Rioja Red Blend
Serving temp:
 16° - 18° C
ABV:
 13%

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Behind the bottle

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La Rioja Alta S.A.

La Rioja Alta S.A. was founded in 1890 by five Riojan and Basque families who shared the same passion for wine. A quality orientated producer, the...

La Rioja Alta S.A. was founded in 1890 by five Riojan and Basque families who shared the same passion for wine. A quality orientated producer, the company remains true to the traditional method of making Rioja - using American oak barrels which are made in their own cooperage, racking by candlelight and only releasing the wines onto the market when they are ready to drink.

The company has 300 hectares of vineyards in the best zones of Rioja. With more than 50,000 casks and 6.4 million bottles stored at any one time, the equivalent of about 8 years sales, La Rioja Alta S.A. is unique in its ability to supply large quantities of fully mature wines of world class quality.

Gran Reserva 890 sits at the top of a range of Rioja including the wineries flagship brand, Viña Ardanza, which since its creation in 1941 is the wine that has earned La Rioja Alta S.A. the most fame and renown.

La Rioja Alta S.A.
La Rioja

La Rioja
La Rioja is arguably Spain's most prestigious wine region, internationally renowned for its high-quality wines, particularly its refined reds. Located in northern Spain, the region benefits from a...
La Rioja is arguably Spain's most prestigious wine region, internationally renowned for its high-quality wines, particularly its refined reds. Located in northern Spain, the region benefits from a diverse climate that ranges from the cooler, wetter Atlantic influences in the west to the warmer, drier Mediterranean influences in the east, with the Ebro River playing a crucial role in moderating the climate. The Cantabrian Mountains also provide a barrier against harsh weather conditions from the north.

The region is best known for its robust, oak-aged red wines primarily made from the Tempranillo grape, which is the backbone of La Rioja's wine production. Other grapes such as Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano, and Mazuelo (Carignan) also play supporting roles in the blends. Rioja wines are classified into several categories based on their aging process: Rioja (the youngest), Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, with the latter two requiring several years of aging in oak barrels and bottles before release.

La Rioja is divided into three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental (formerly known as Rioja Baja). Each area brings its unique characteristics to the wines. Rioja Alta is known for its old-world style wines with a balance of structure and acidity; Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a full-bodied and aromatic profile due to its limestone-rich soils; Rioja Oriental, being warmer, typically yields wines that are richer and more intensely colored.

The region's commitment to quality and tradition, combined with innovations in winemaking techniques, ensures that La Rioja continues to produce wines that are appreciated globally for their depth, complexity, and longevity. The picturesque landscapes of vine-covered hills and historic bodegas (wine cellars) also make La Rioja a popular destination for wine tourism.
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