Description

Tasting Note

Perfectly poised, mature Rioja with intense red currant and Christmas Cake spice. Perfect with lamb, roast beef or mature cheddar.

Grape

Tempranillo is a black grape variety widely grown throughout the Iberian peninsula and is considered to be Spain’s best quality grape. Its name is the diminutive of the Spanish ‘early’ as it ripens several weeks earlier than most Spanish red grapes. Gran Reserva wines are produced in exceptional years and are aged for at least 5 years with 18 months in oak and a minimum of 36 months in the bottle. Gran Reserva wines are often at their peak when released so offer fully mature aromas and flavours with great balance, elegance and softness on the palate. The bouquet may show notes of raisins, coffee, mushroom, spice and game and the palate prunes, figs, plum and berry.

Producer

Formed by five families in the late 19th century, the La Rioja Alta S.A. winery is one of the leading producers in Rioja. Their Tempranillo-led Gran Reservas, aged for remarkably long periods in barrels from the producer’s cooperage, are some of the most sought-after wines from the region. And while they always upheld standards and tradition, La Rioja Alta S.A. never stopped experimenting and pushing for better quality, offering some of the purest, precise expressions of Tempranillo in the world.

Region

Rioja is a wine region in the Basque country in north central Spain. The vineyards are on a high plateau and this altitude tempers the otherwise hot climate allowing the region to produce some of the most balanced, elegant wines in the world. Tempranillo is the backbone of the reds and wines may also include Grenache and Graciano. The use of spicy new oak is a hallmark of both red and white Rioja and it is one of the few regions that mature its wines for long periods insitu and only shipping when wines are soft, mature and ready to drink.

Food Pairing

With mature flavours and great complexity this style suits game dishes, wild mushrooms, truffles and very mature hard cheeses.