Much like Christmas, the arrival of the wine from La Rioja Alta only happens once a year. We will shortly be receiving our annual order of wines from this famed producer. We anticipate that the wines will arrive in store by the end of May but you can secure a selection of these highly sought after wines through this pre-offer.
About the Producer  La Rioja Alta and its group of wineries which includes Terre de Ona and a new project in the Ribera del Duero, Bodegas Aster, is widely considered to be one of the benchmarks for traditionally produced wines from Rioja and Spain in general. Founded in 1890 the original winery was situated on the same spot where their head office sits today. While they produce a wide range of wines, they are widely known for the three Reserva level wines that they craft; Alberdi, Arana and Ardanza. These wines are all named after the founding families, all of which remain shareholders in the company to this day. While producing a classically styled Rioja, through the use of traditional winemaking practices the winery now incorporates many new technological advances. While it is quite common for top bodegas in Rioja to not own any vineyards, La Rioja Alta actually owns 360 hectares of vines from which they can source top quality fruit. This is just one of the key components that permits them to make excellent wines year in and year out, that showcase enticing fruit, complexity and richness. Tempranillo is the dominant grape variety planted in the vineyards but there is also a small proportion of Garnacha and Graciano as well. In addition to the three Reservas, in exceptional years the winery will also produce two Gran Reservas, the 904 and 890. These are both considered to be amongst the finest wines produced in Rioja today.
*pricing and availability subject to change without notice.
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Finca San Martin 2011 Crianza - $25.13 pre-tax ($25.13)
"Produced from 100% Tempranillo that was hand-picked and then fermented in tanks. This wine was then aged for 16 months in 60% new American oak casks and 40% in two year old French oak casks. Deep, rich ruby red in colour with a garnet rim. Intense and fruity on the nose, it shows aromas of raspberries and wild strawberries with a balsamic and spicy oak background. Medium-bodied and balanced on the palate, it displays gentle acidity together with soft and polished tannins that leads to a tasty and fresh round finish. It offers juicy, succulent, ripe fruit and liquorice. Ideal for pairing with cured ham, tapas dishes, and also hearty main dishes and meat."
- Winemaker's Notes
Bodegas Aster 2010 Ribera del Duero Crianza - $32.09 pre-tax ($36.90)
"The 2009 Aster Crianza has notes of cherries and Mediterranean aromatic herbs and is more classical, with balsamic notes of incense and old furniture over the core of black cherries. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins, slightly more rustic than the 2010. Drink now-2015."
- The Wine Advocate #214 88 points
Torre de Oņa 2010 Rioja Reserva $39.04 pre-tax ($44.90)
"A blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo, the majority of this wine underwent malolactic fermentation in new French and American oak barrels to provide deep colour and fresh, fruity aromas. Medium-high intensity, cherry-red with a garnet-red rim. Clean and bright. Intense nose. Very fruity, with aromas of forest berries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, enveloping the notes of painstaking barrel ageing. This leads to toasty notes of bakery, mocha, tobacco and Lebanon cedar. In the mouth it is well-balanced with a pleasant acidity, and firm, polished tannins that provide structure and reaffirm its balance. Its time in the bottle provides an attractive final roundness."
- Winemaker's notes
La Rioja Alta 2006 Viņa Arana - $43.39 pre-tax ($49.90)
"A blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo. Aged for three and half years in four year old American oak barrels. Bottled in December of 2010 this wine has been ageing in bottle since then. Medium-depth, cherry-red; clean and bright. High aromatic intensity, with outstanding notes of candied fruit, wild strawberries and blueberries leading the way to the aromas from the oak -balsamic, vanilla, cocoa, tobacco leaf and mocha candy. Medium-bodied in the mouth; balanced with the brand's typical elegant acidity. Smooth, enveloping tannins that give way to a distinguished, complex finish. A great accompaniment to rice, pasta dishes, small game casseroles or any sort of char grilled meat."
- Winemaker's notes
La Rioja Alta 2004 Gran Reserva - $71.22 pre-tax ($81.90)
"The 2004 Gran Reserva 904 is Tempranillo from Brinas, Labastida and Villalba balanced with 10% Graciano from Briones and Rodezno. The grapes were fermented and macerated in inox vats for 14 days at 28š C, and malolactic fermentation lasted 28 days. The wine aged for 4 years in used American oak barrels averaging 4 years old, during which time it was manually racked 8 times. 150,000 bottles were filled. This 2004, from a superb vintage shows a beautiful light red color with a brick rim and a superb nose redolent of balsamic woods, spices, leather, well-hung meat, incense and truffles. The light to medium-bodied palate shows fully resolved tannins, great acidity and pure, pungent flavors that linger in the mouth forever and that can only be Rioja. This is a wine to smell over and over again. It might sound like an exaggeration, but this wine is still too young and you should wait a little bit and drink the superb 2001 vintage which should still be available on the market while this one matures in bottle. At this quality level the price is superb especially considering that the wine is being released 10 years after the vintage. Drink 2016-2024."
- The Wine Advocate #210 96 points
La Rioja Alta 1998 Gran Reserva 890 - $208.61 pre-tax ($239.90)
"The 1998 Gran Reserva 890 is more or less the same blend and vinification as the 1995 with just a little more alcohol (13%). It has impressive intensity on the nose with lifted dark cherry and briary notes. It has very fine delineation with aromas of licorice and orange rind. The palate is very well-balanced with fine tannins, crisp acidity and lively fresh citrus fresh fruit: small red cherries intermingling with orange zest, marmalade and cassis. It will need several years before it reaches its drinking plateau, but patently has great potential. Drink 2015-2025+ Finally, I was poured two mature vintages from their scant reserves."
- The Wine Advocate #202 94 points |
Offering Archive
To view the offerings we have recently sent out, please click any of the links below:
*please note that some of the wines listed in the links above may no longer be available.
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