If you love Rioja, then say a big thank you to La Rioja Alta. They’ve been around so long—over 130 years—that the estate is a large part of the reason that Rioja is what it is today. What is it today? One of the premier Spanish winemaking regions that have strict guidelines to ensure wines that carry the Rioja label are top quality. La Rioja Alta is the standard-bearer of that quality.
Riojas that are labeled Gran Reserva are the best of the best, and the 2x 96 point 2014 La Rioja Alta S.A. Viña Arana Gran Reserva Rioja testifies to that. To earn the Gran Reserva seal, the wine can be made only in exceptional vintages. The red wines have to spend at least 2 years in oak and then 3 years in bottle before release. The result is a wine with exceptional tannic structure and the potential to age for years.
This Gran Reserva has over 7 years of age on it, and it’s drinking very well right now, but it has what it takes to cellar for at least another decade. Whether you open this Rioja that day it lands on your doorstep or 10 years from now, it will match with a diverse range of foods. Pair with the classic foods Rioja complements, tomato-based dishes, barbecue, pork, lamb, and grilled tuna. But, its classic profile makes it appropriate for some lighter dishes, too, like roasted summer vegetables. Try going for a Spanish wine/French cuisine mashup and serve it alongside ratatouille.
Both James Suckling and Decanter bestowed this with 96 points. Decanter is wild about the wine’s “freshness.” Suckling says it’s “complex and gorgeous.” We say with its intense dark fruits and subtle notes of vanilla, caramel, and brioche from time in barrel, this fresh, vibrant, well-balanced, tasty wine should be a staple on your table all year round, for years to come.
And, at over 43% off (and BHW’s free shipping with 6 bottles) this is a wine to stock up on. Open some now. Open some next year. Open some ten years from now. Whenever you open it, you’ll be pleased you choose this classic Rioja from one of the region’s iconic estates.
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