2010 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890

This Gran Reserva from La Rioja Alta is only made with exceptionally good harvests. When the grapes have a high alcohol content, a good color and optimal aging, the wine will be made. When the wine is ready to use, everything about the wine is perfect. A cherry red color with an orange edge, the nose is very intense with the classic Rioja bouquet consisting of spices, balsamic, cured leather, cocoa, tobacco and vanilla. The wine has a large aftertaste, which will grow the longer the wine is in the bottle. The La Rioja Alta 890 is made only at exceptional harvests and comes from the oldest vineyards with very low yields. The 2010 is the successor to the 2005, 2004, 2001 and 1998 vintage.

Abundant winter rainfall ensured sufficient water reserves for proper vine development. Favorable weather conditions throughout the growing cycle meant that the ripening took place in the most ideal condition. In the final stage there were significant temperature differences - sunny days with moderate temperatures and cold nights leading to a very slow and balanced ripening process. The oldest vineyards from which the 890 Gran Reserva is made have taken full advantage of this. A selective harvest yielded grapes of exceptional quality. The 2004 vintage was officially rated 'Excellent' by the DOCa. Rioja Control Board.

The 890 La Rioa Alta Gran Reserva is made of mainly Tempranillo and some Graciano and Mazuelo from the vineyards in Briñas, Labastida and Villalba and additionally Graciano (3%) from the Montecillo vineyard. This is the first Gran Reserva 890, using the Graciano grapes from this vineyard.

This results in a very careful selection procedure. Only the best clusters were taken to the bodega in small refrigerated boxes. After painstaking de-stemming and crushing, the grapes were transferred to tanks and fermented at a controlled temperature. The wine has matured for over 6 years in American oak barrels. The barrels are made in-house with wood imported from the US and dried for three years.

The wine has the characteristic medium depth cherry red color with a light pink rim. Very intense aromas with balsamic and spicy notes, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, mint and spices against a fruity background of plums and dried apricots. Balanced on the palate, with elegant acidity, good structure, round, polished tannins and a blissfully creamy finish. The finish is very long. This is a top-notch Gran Reserva that is second to none. Elegant, complex, sophisticated.