La Rioja Alta : Gran Reserva 890 2001

Tasting characteristics and serving recommendations for Gran Reserva 890 2001 by La Rioja Alta

Tasting

Appearance
The wine shows a ruby-red color with an intense orange rim, medium depth, clear and bright.

Nose
The bouquet stands out for its intensity, revealing notable balsamic and spicy notes of coconut, vanilla, and mint chocolate, wrapped in ripe fruit fragrances.

Palate
On the palate, this wine impresses with its ample body and structure, revealing balanced tannins of exceptional elegance and finesse. The finish is long, with complex, spicy aromas.

Food and wine pairing

This Gran Reserva 890 2001 pairs perfectly with delicate dishes with light sauces, herb-laced meat stews, and chocolate desserts. It can also be enjoyed as a digestif.

Serving and cellaring

Gran Reserva 890 2001 is best enjoyed at 17°C (62.5°F).

An exceptional Gran Reserva from La Rioja with intense balsamic notes

The estate

La Rioja Alta, founded in 1890 in Haro, La Rioja, farms several hundred hectares of vineyards. This family-run business stands out for its in-house artisanal cooperage, aging in American oak, and its crianza, reserva, and gran reserva styles. Recognized among the world’s most admired wineries by Drinks International, it primarily grows Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Garnacha, and Graciano.

The vineyard

The grapes for this Gran Reserva 890 2001 come from the oldest vines on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria in Rioja. These plots benefit from poor soils with a high limestone content, yielding a small number of loose clusters with smaller berries, providing an optimal skin-to-pulp ratio.

The vintage

2001 was marked by a mild winter followed by adequate rainfall. The ripening period enjoyed very sunny days with notable nighttime temperature drops, promoting excellent vine health and superb balance in the grapes, with outstanding polyphenolic and aromatic qualities.

Winemaking and aging

The best bunches were selected and transported in small refrigerated tanks. After trouble-free alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, Gran Reserva 890 2001 underwent six years of aging in American oak barrels, handcrafted at the estate’s cooperage. Twelve rackings were carried out, with further selection for the final blend. Bottling took place in March 2008 without filtration.

Grape varieties

Tempranillo (95%), complemented by Graciano (3%) and Mazuelo (2%).