{"title":"October 1: Rioja: An Educational Session","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"la-rioja-alta-gran-reserva-904-rioja-spain-2015","title":"La Rioja Alta S.A., Gran Reserva, 904 Selección Especial, Rioja DOCa, Spain, 2015","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003eClick \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learnaboutwine.com\/blogs\/news\/rules-of-rioja\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHere\u003c\/a\u003e to Read Our \"Rules of Rioja\" Blog\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eIn 1890, Five Riojan and Basque families founded the \"Sociedad Vinícola de La Rioja Alta\" in Haro's Station District. Our first president was a woman: Doña Saturnina García Cid y Gárate. Monsieur Vigier, a Frenchman, was the House's first winemaker and the Reserva 1890 (predecessor of today's Gran Reserva 890) is the first wine he made. In 1904, Don Alfredo Ardanza, founder of La Rioja Alta and owner of the Ardanza Winery, proposed the merger of both companies. To commemorate the event, we made the Reserva 1904, which eventually became the Gran Reserva 904. In 1941, we took on the definitive name that persists today: La Rioja Alta, S.A.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrinks International ranked us as the third most admired winery in the world in 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv title=\"Page 1\" class=\"page\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv title=\"Page 1\" class=\"page\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJulio Sáenz\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRioja, Spain\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe 2015 Gran Reserva 904 Tinto offers great aromatic complexity, with notes of wild strawberry, red cherry, plum, blackberry and cranberry combined with aromas of tobacco, brioche, ground coffee, caramel, cedar and cinnamon blossom. The alcohol and acidity are elegantly balanced on the palate and its polished, gentle tannins and freshness provide a smooth and refined mouthfeel. Fine, delicate and very long aftertaste, that will continue to be rounded with time in the bottle, making this new Gran Reserva 904 a wine with great cellaring potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEspecially recommended with all kinds of meat and stews, seasoned fish and desserts with chocolate or red fruit toppings. Perfect as an after-dinner drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 Points - James Suckling\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA perfumed nose of plums, mulberries, mushrooms, caramel, sweet tobacco and sweet spices. Full-bodied with velvety, fine tannins and lively acidity. Balanced and supple with a creamy texture. Delicate and precise with a long, polished finish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey used the words subtlety, elegance, finesse, delicacy and silk to define the 2015 Gran Reserva 904 Selección Especial, a blend of 90% Tempranillo from their vineyards in Villalba, Briñas and Rodezno with 10% Graciano from the Montecillo vineyard in Fuenmayor that was picked 23 days later than the Tempranillo. The grapes were sorted optically for the first time, and they fermented in stainless steel where the wine went through malolactic too. The wine was put in barrel in January 2016—used American oak barrels built by their own coopers—where it matured for four years, during which time it was racked every six months. 2015 was a healthy vintage with balanced ripeness that delivered wines with good aging potential. They thought the wine needed a little more time in bottle to polish those tannins and have decided to hold it and release the wine around March 2023; it will be marked Selección Especial, the first 904 to do so, as they have very high hopes for this year and believe it's one of the finest vintages. They think it will develop the sophistication in the palate with a little more time and that is should achieve the silkiness that is the signature of 904. This is very 2015; I saw quite strong tannins in all the 2015 wines I tasted from Rioja Alta.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Golden State","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46201743311153,"sku":"","price":118.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/La-Rioja-Alta-Gran-Reserva-904-Rioja-Spain-2015.jpg?v=1689876447"},{"product_id":"r-lopez-de-heredia-vina-tondonia-reserva-rioja-spain-2012","title":"R. Lopez De Heredia, Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2012","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial price!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt all started in the middle of the nineteenth century when French negociants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to transform into wine, since the phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards. Our founder, Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic student in the art of wine making, followed closely in their footsteps.\u003cbr\u003eDon Rafael fell in love with the region and especially the area around Haro, the mythical capital of the Rioja Alta region. He observed that there was a magical combination of soil and climate that would offer the perfect environment for producing wine that would eventually become world famous. Around 1877 he began the design and construction of the complex that is today known as the López de Heredia bodega (winery), the oldest in Haro and one of the first three houses in the Rioja region.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor over a century our emotions have been rooted in our love and passion for this land and its harvest. We cherish our heritage, and this combination of love and the rigorous quality standards we apply, have become our trademark and remains our maxim for today and the future.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBodegas López de Heredia stands out as one of the few family-run bodegas regulated by the Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja - DOC (Appellation region).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaría José López de Heredia\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRioja, Spain\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe finished wine is a stunner from the first sip. It pours a lucid ruby with very slight bricking at the edges. The nose brings a plethora of red and purple fruits—crushed raspberry, plum skin, black cherry pit, dried cranberry, dried red currant—alongside beguiling tertiary notes like cedar, fresh leather, cigar box, cured tobacco, and baking spice. The texture here is thrilling, the depth of fruit belying its warm-climate origins, but the structure is defined by freshness and delineation above all else. The 2012 is firing on all cylinders, one of the very best “young” Tondonia bottlings we’ve ever had, and we know from first-hand experience that a vintage like this is going to perform well far.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 Points - James Suckling\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSavory berries, plums, iron, minerals, tobacco, ink and blood oranges. Very bright, juicy and structured, with sensational balance, aged savoriness and brightness that are typical of Tondonia reds. Beautiful now.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eThe 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva comes from a very dry year, with 25% less rain than the average (at the time), resulting in lower yields of very healthy grapes that delivered wines with nice balance between alcohol and polyphenols, making it very apt for the aging in barrel. It had a slightly longer élevage in barrel, six years. The wine is aromatic with a developed profile, spicy and tertiary (forest floor, a touch of brick dust and iodine), complex and nuanced. The palate is full and round, with polished tannins and a long, dry finish. It has a textbook Tondonia nose and profile. 250,000 bottles produced.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Vinous\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003eThe 2012 Viña Tondonia is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, cultivated on the meander of the Ebro River in Rioja Alta. This garnet wine reveals aromas of ash and plum marmalade, with a faintly herbal core and hints of oaky cedar. Dry and lean, the fairly chalky texture lingers long, concluding with a compact, flavorful and lasting finish. The 2012 is a beautiful old-school Rioja.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winewise","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50443926503729,"sku":null,"price":78.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/R.LopezDeHeredia_VinaTondoniaReserva_Rioja_Spain_2012.jpg?v=1733967194"},{"product_id":"marques-de-murrieta-capellania-reserva-rioja-spain-2018","title":"Marques de Murrieta, Capellania Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eClick \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learnaboutwine.com\/blogs\/news\/rules-of-rioja\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHere\u003c\/a\u003e to Read Our \"Rules of Rioja\" Blog\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverview The Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe origin of the Marqués de Murrieta winery is also the origin of Rioja. Don Luciano Murrieta, applying the techniques learned in Bordeaux, made the first Rioja wine in 1852, with the intention of lasting over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDon Luciano was clear from the beginning that a wine with the quality of Rioja and good aging would have the ability to be exported outside Spain. Therefore, he did not hesitate to send that mythical vintage of 1852 to countries such as Mexico and Cuba, also becoming the first Rioja exported.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe viura, a white variety with which it is made, comes from Pago Capellanía, of only 6 hectares and located in the highest area of Finca Ygay. Thanks to the altitude, the high quality of its calcareous soils and the low yields of the vineyards of more than 70 years, the variety reaches its maximum potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eManual harvest, selection table, fermentation at low temperatures... every step that is taken in the elaboration of Chaplaincy is aimed at achieving the greatest expression of the variety. Its balanced passage through French oak barrels gives it precision and makes Chaplaincy an incredibly gastronomic wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eClick \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7MO6INdX7q4\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e to watch our YouTube video about this wine!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eMaría Vargas\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrape\/Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eViura\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eRioja, Spain\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eWith a steely straw color and with a very defined nose in which aromas of ripe apple, spicy notes of thyme and fennel, almond touches and an elegant smoked patina stand out. In the mouth it is frank and direct, with volume, fresh and balanced. With a lot of life ahead of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The always demanding Pago Capellanía has given us a vintage plus a wine of great liveliness and complexity\" Maria Vargas - Technical Director.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 Points - James Suckling\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMineral, macadamia, pine nuts, white sesame and white fruit with a touch of spice. A bright and linear Capellania that shows excellent tension, freshness and complexity. Long and appetizing finish. More taut and gastronomic now. 100% viura. Drink now or hold.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Decanter\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMurrieta is one of Rioja’s great centenarian names, and it remains a reference for top-quality Rioja today. All its best wines are made from its own vineyards around the Ygay estate near Logroño. Unlike the legendary Ygay white, which is a wine aged for an extremely long time, this Capellanía is a top-quality wine that remains more closely connected to the fruit, thanks to a much shorter period of ageing and more protective winemaking. Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW: Quite restrained, it saves everything for the palate. There, the wine is smooth but very complex; multi-layered and unique. The epitome of a great Rioja white, this is destined for a very long future. Sarah Jane Evans MW: Very fine oak. This is a pure, lean style, perhaps almost too refined and controlled. Pierre Mansour: Wonderful spicy new oak notes; intense, plump, fleshy and round. Some seriously good fruit here, this has depth combined with freshness. Shows very talented winemaking. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo catch up with the current vintages that I shall review every 12 months from now on, I tasted two vintages of some of the wines, including the whites. The 2018 Capellanía is 100% Viura from the plot that names the wine. The vineyard is six hectares planted in 1945 at 485 meters altitude, the highest in the estate. It fermented in concrete, the first vintage to do so, as it was fermented in stainless steel until then, and matured in second-use French oak barrels for 22 months. It spent a further seven months in concrete, a long élevage, with the idea to produce a structured white with aging potential, while keeping the varietal character. The wine is subtle and elegant, following the path of all the wines in the portfolio here, still marked by the élevage in oak, spicy and smoky. The palate is balanced, with a nice combination of fruit and oak, with a soft texture, clean, focused and tasty. It has 14% alcohol, a low pH of 3.1 and 6.10 grams of acidity. 21,836 bottled and 688 magnums produced. It was bottled in July 2022. This is now released with the Gran Reserva back label.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SGWS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50453197455665,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/MarquesdeMurrieta_CapellaniaReserva_Rioja_Spain_2018.jpg?v=1734212285"},{"product_id":"faustino-i-gran-reserva-rioja-spain-2016","title":"Faustino I Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2016","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eIn the mid 1800s, Eleuterio Martinez Arzok took his first steps toward establishing himself as a producer and merchant of wines from the Rioja region of Spain. He started out by selling his wines in the Rioja and Basque regions, direct from the barrel. Much has changed since then and the winery he founded has since become known as one of the premier fine wine producers of the Rioja region.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the late 1950s, his similarly adventurous descendant, Julio Faustino Martinez, launched the family-owned label in both national and international markets. Today, Bodegas Faustino is Rioja's largest exporter of Gran Reserva wines. The winner of numerous awards and gold medals in international competitions and tastings, Bodegas Faustino is a proud custodian of the Rioja region's growing international reputation as a source of truly world-class fine wines.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith 1600 acres of its own vineyards, Faustino is self-sufficient in producing its Reserva and Gran Reserva wines. The vineyards are located in the upper part of Rioja Alavesa at an altitude of between 1500 and 1800 feet. The climate is cool, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and the vines thrive in the chalky soil. The state-of-the-art Faustino winery has a stock of 45,000 barriques, 80% of which are American oak. The winery maintains a permanent stock of 9 million bottles of Reserva and Gran Reserva wines.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJuan José Diez González\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTempranillo\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eRioja, Spain\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eClean, bright. Ruby colour developing to maroon. On the nose is complex and elegant, wide fruity and spicy notes. On the mouth, elegant, with pleasant hints due to the barrel ageing. Long and silky finish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt matches with any kind of meat and mushrooms rice. Some tasty or oily fish such as tuna or cod. Medium-aged cheese such as emmental or gruyere.\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92 Points - Wine Spectator\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eA harmonious red that leans toward traditional in style without forsaking its concentration or fruit expression. An overtone of tobacco, vanilla and milled white pepper is a fragrant thread winding through ripe and juicy black cherry and plum fruit, framed by refined, supple tannins. Hints of leather, red licorice and wild thyme play on the fresh, focused finish.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e90 Points - Falstaff\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClear, classic nose with berry impressions, but also smoky, roasted nuances. Soft on the palate with a balanced acidity. Somewhat rough tannin. Ends sour. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WINEBOW","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51577707888945,"sku":null,"price":44.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/Faustino_I_Gran_Reserva_Rioja_Spain_2016_3194e8d7-9392-413b-a434-6a5ec528ab99.jpg?v=1758910622"},{"product_id":"la-rioja-alta-s-a-gran-reserva-890-seleccion-especial-rioja-doca-spain-1975","title":"La Rioja Alta S.A., Gran Reserva 890, Rioja DOCa, Spain, 1975","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003eClick \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learnaboutwine.com\/blogs\/news\/rules-of-rioja\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHere\u003c\/a\u003e to Read Our \"Rules of Rioja\" Blog\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottle Condition: Purchased 9\/3\/2026 from Winewise - direct from Spain. Pristine condition besides some moisture spots on the label. Cork is in a solid position - not pushed or pulled. Fill is bottom neck - optimal for this 1975 specimen. A great find. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eIn 1890, Five Riojan and Basque families founded the \"Sociedad Vinícola de La Rioja Alta\" in Haro's Station District. Our first president was a woman: Doña Saturnina García Cid y Gárate. Monsieur Vigier, a Frenchman, was the House's first winemaker and the Reserva 1890 (predecessor of today's Gran Reserva 890) is the first wine he made. In 1904, Don Alfredo Ardanza, founder of La Rioja Alta and owner of the Ardanza Winery, proposed the merger of both companies. To commemorate the event, we made the Reserva 1904, which eventually became the Gran Reserva 904. In 1941, we took on the definitive name that persists today: La Rioja Alta, S.A.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrinks International ranked us as the third most admired winery in the world in 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv title=\"Page 1\" class=\"page\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv title=\"Page 1\" class=\"page\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJulio Sáenz\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRioja, Spain\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eClean and bright, with an intense garnet color and delicate brick-red edges. Remarkable intensity and aromatic complexity, embodying the essence of a classic Rioja Gran Reserva. Notes of raisins and candied black plums blend harmoniously with subtle aromas from barrel aging and bottle maturation: Lebanese cedar, tea leaves, cinnamon, dark chocolate, vanilla, pepper, and nutmeg. On the palate, seamlessly balancing the elegance and power of its tannins with refined freshness and equilibrium. The finish is broad and intense, with lingering balsamic and sweet spice notes that contribute to its long and elegant bouquet. An optimal drinking stage, which will continue to evolve, gaining even greater finesse and complexity over time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGran Reserva 890 is our most special wine. Recommended with main courses with light sauces, meat stews with herbs and desserts with chocolate. It is ideal as an after-dinner drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (1973 Vintage)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 1973 Gran Reserva 890 spent eight years in American oak vats during which it was racked 15 times before spending another six years in bottle. The nose is so entrancing that you just want to sit down and weep (with pleasure). Dark cherries, black truffle, freshly picked mint, ox-tail and dried blood all blossom from the glass with stunning delineation. The palate does not quite match the brilliance of the aromatics. But it is imbued with life-affirming freshness: a ferrous entry with sour cherry, orange rind, allspice, white pepper and a touch of cedar towards the finish which has a soupcon of austerity, suggesting that there was some Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Drink now.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winewise","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55795286704433,"sku":null,"price":695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/LaRiojaAltaS.A._GranReserva890_RiojaDOCa_Spain_1975.jpg?v=1787049143"}],"url":"https:\/\/marchantofwine.com\/collections\/october-1-rioja-an-educational-session.oembed","provider":"Merchant of Wine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}