Viña Alberdi, Reserva, La Rioja Alta
Spain
»
Rioja
Bottle
(75cl)
£
10.17
$
16.57
12 x
£
9.13
Special case price
£
109.57
Buy 12 and save
£
12.52
(10%)
Medium Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino ,
Ready, but will keep,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
12.5% alc.
"The 2000 Reserva Vina Alberdi is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20%
Mazuela (Carignan). Medium ruby in color, it exhibits a nicely developed and
expressive nose of cedar, spice, and red currants. Light to medium-bodied,
seamless, elegant, and ripe, drink this wine now and over the next 3-4
years."
(Wine Advocate - Feb 2007)
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Viña Alberdi, Reserva, La Rioja Alta
Spain
»
Rioja
Bottle
(75cl)
£
11.96
$
19.47
12 x
£
10.76
Special case price
£
129.08
Buy 12 and save
£
14.40
(10%)
Medium Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino ,
Drink now,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
12.5% alc.
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Viña Arana, Reserva, La Rioja Alta
Spain
»
Rioja
Bottle
(75cl)
£
14.30
$
23.30
12 x
£
12.87
Special case price
£
154.43
Buy 12 and save
£
17.22
(10%)
Medium-Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino ,
Drink now,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
12.5% alc.
The Arana in 2001 was made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo and was aged for
three years in third fill American oak casks, then allowed to rest and gather
composure before release to a suspecting market. The wine has a distinctive
almost crepuscular hue, then classic aromas of menthol, macerated cherry, dried
fruit and forest floor. Less exuberant of persona than the Ardanza, this is,
allegedly, the one that they love to drink everyday in the Bodega…no
greater endorsement than that is required. The gentle sweetness and underlying
citric acidity make it a perfect match for typical fat-soaked Spanish
dishes.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)
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Viña Ardanza, Reserva
Spain
»
Rioja
Bottle
(75cl)
£
16.48
$
26.84
12 x
£
14.83
Special case price
£
177.91
Buy 12 and save
£
19.83
(10%)
Medium-Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino ,
Drink now,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
13% alc.
Of the three famous alliterative siblings at La Rioja Alta (the other two being
Alberdi and Arana), Ardanza is traditionally the richest and most expressively
fruity. This is due to the unusually high share of Garnacha in the blend (20%).
The wine is aged in American oak for three years and then kept in bottle for a
further two before release. With a brilliant deep cherry colour and a
terracotta rim, the wine has notes of ripe red-berried fruit, backed up by
hints of cinnamon, spice and vanillin. Balanced acidity and supple refined
tannins complete the picture. Superb with a rack of lamb.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)
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Gran Reserva 904, La Rioja Alta
Spain
»
Rioja
Bottle
(75cl)
£
24.30
$
39.58
12 x
£
21.87
Special case price
£
262.43
Buy 12 and save
£
29.22
(10%)
Medium-Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino ,
Ready, but will improve,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
12.5% alc.
Made up of 90% Tempranillo, with 10% of Graciano, the 1997 was aged for four
years in American oak, racked every six months and then bottled with minimal
filtration. The wine has a tawny lustre and a generous lifted nose of wild
strawberries, vanillin, wood-smoke and spice. The palate is soft and finely
textured with silky mature tannins, balsamic hints and a powerful, knowing
finish.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)
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Gran Reserva 904, La Rioja Alta
Spain
»
Rioja
Limited Stock
Bottle
(75cl)
£
24.61
$
40.08
Medium-Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino ,
Ready, but will keep,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
12.5% alc.
In a head-to-head of those two great Rioja vintages, 1995 is now showing even
more promise than the 1994 and this wine is no exception. An absolute gem, try
it with roast turkey or game.
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Parker Score: 90
/100.
Gran Reserva 890, La Rioja Alta
Spain
»
Rioja
Bottle
(75cl)
£
73.91
$
120.37
12 x
£
66.52
Special case price
£
798.26
Buy 12 and save
£
88.70
(10%)
Medium-Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino ,
Ready, but will keep,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
12.5% alc.
Named, rather confusingly, after the date of the creation of La Rioja Alta
(1890) Gran Reserva 890 is the non plus ultra of the family, a wine that
slumbers patiently for 6 years in oak, and then is allowed to rest in bottle
and then, finally, is released to the suspecting market-place. Guillermo de
Aranzabul, at the head of La Rioja Alta, maintains that of those two splendid
vintages, 1994 was perhaps the better for Reserva wines, but 1995 for the Gran
Reservas. The 1995 is now coming to life, the oak just starting to loosen its
grip, the tobacco / dried fruit complexity starting to entwine the sweet ripe
fruit into an Edenic alliance of excellence.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)
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Gran Reserva 904, La Rioja Alta
Spain
»
Rioja
Limited Stock
Bottle
(75cl)
£
86.09
$
140.20
Medium-Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Other Varieties ,
Ready, but will keep,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
12.5% alc.
1985 was a near-perfect vintage, with a warm summer and a perfect ripening
season. The premium 904 cuvée is afforded 4 months in 100 year old oak vats and
5 years in American oak barrels with 10 hand rackings. Made up of 85%
Tempranillo, with 15% divided between Graciano and Mazuelo, the wine has a
tawny lustre and a generous lifted nose of wild strawberries, vanillin,
woodsmoke and spice. The palate is soft and finely textured with silky mature
tannins. From the best vintage since the mythical 1970, this is the essence of
traditional Rioja.
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BBR Score: 18/20.
Parker Score: 90
/100.
Gran Reserva 890, La Rioja Alta
Spain
»
Rioja
Bottle
(75cl)
£
127.65
$
207.89
12 x
£
114.87
Special case price
£
1378.43
Buy 12 and save
£
153.39
(10%)
Medium-Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino ,
Drink now,
Organic (Not certified/in conversion) ,
12.5% alc.
"This winery's top of the line offerings are the Gran Reservas. The 1981
Gran Reserva 890 boasts a knock-out nose of smoke, charcoal, vanillin, black
fruits, and cigar smoke. The wine's terrific fruit seemingly belies the
relatively advanced medium ruby color with significant amber at the edge. There
is tannin in the background, but the wine is broad and expansive, with
considerable sweet fruit, glycerin, and length. 1981 was considered one of the
great vintages for Rioja, and this wine is at its peak of maturity, although it
will last for another 15-20 years."
92/100 (Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Oct 1997)
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