La Rioja Alta - Gran Reserva 890 Rioja 2010
Price: $249.96
| Producer | La Rioja Alta |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Varietal | Tempranillo |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Sku | 601648 |
| Size | 750ml |
If La Rioja Alta could be summed up with one word it would be, tradition. This winery has been functional since 1890. La Rioja Alta's philosophy has not changed since. Though much has changed in the area since their founding, they continue to make their wine in the style popular then. A good portion of that style requires ageing in oak barrels traditionally made on site, with American Oak.
The Rioja DOCa name is an amalgam of Rio Oja, or the Oja River which flows through the region. If you know Rioja you know its sub districts; Rioja Baja, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta. Distinguished
by its relative altitude the Alta sub-district is regarded as the best for traditional winemaking.
This is where La Rioja Alta is sources most of their fruit from.
Traditional Riojas show many similarities to elegant Burgundys. You'll find earthy characteristics, high acidity levels, low(er) alcohol levels and red fruit profiles. Where traditional Rioja is unique though, is in its grapes,Tempranillo and other blending varietals like Mazuelo (Carignan), Garnacha and Graciano. Further distinguishing traditional Rioja is the use of American oak, and extended barrel and bottle aging.
Wine Advocate: 97 Points
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. This is a very intense 890. Classicism in a bottle. (LG)
James Suckling: 97 Points
A fragrant nose of blackberries, plums, earth, dried flowers, leather, cloves, sweet tobacco and cigar box. Full-bodied with seamless tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and layered with great tension. Elegant, with a velvety texture and a long finish. Such length and beauty now with so much age. Drink or hold.
