“The impression La Rioja Alta gives is that not much changes from year to year, but that’s not true. Julio Saénz is a perfectionist and he’s always making small adjustments in the vineyard and winery. I’m a huge fan of what La Rioja Alta does.”
TIM ATKIN MW
Few would dispute that La Rioja Alta is the leading quality focused producer in Spain's most famous wine region.
Since the coming together of five growers to form the estate 130 years ago, they have produced some of the most highly regarded and longest-lived examples of Rioja.
Established in 1890 at the same spot where their head office sits today, the company maintains traditional Rioja winemaking practices whilst embracing many of the new technological advances.
It is unusual for a great bodega of Rioja to own vineyards, but La Rioja Alta own 360ha from which they produce the highest quality grapes, resulting in excellent fruit and richness throughout their wines. Tempranillo dominates the plantings, complemented with a small proportion of Garnacha and Graciano.
Unusually for La Rioja Alta, the 2018 vintage saw the production of just one wine: Vina Alberdi Rioja Reserva. All fruit normally destined for their Reserva Ardanza and Gran Reserva’s Arana, ‘904’ and ‘890’ was declassified into their most accessible wine. A super-Alberdi if you will!
Featured Wines
Rioja Gran Reserva '890'
2010
The 2010 vintage of Gran Reserva 890 keeps bringing extraordinary news for La Rioja Alta. After achieving the first 100 point score in the 40-year history of Sobremesa trade magazine, this vintage has also achieved a perfect 100 points in the upcoming 2024 edition of the Spain's most widely read wine publication, the Peñín Guide. Of the 9700 wines included in the guide, just four achieved a 100 point score. According to its Director, the Peñín Guide considers that the 2010 vintage Gran Reserva 890 "represents the greatness of the great Rioja classics in a superb vintage, with a background freshness that will allow it to grow with elegance and complexity" and it is grateful for the "work and determination of houses such as La Rioja Alta, S.A. to keep this type of wine alive and return to Rioja Gran Reserva wines the prominence they deserve."
100 points, Guia Peñin
Rioja Gran Reserva '904'
2015
"A 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."
97 points, James Suckling
Rioja Gran Reserva 'Vina Arana'
2015
"Aromas of dark plum, raspberry, mocha, mushroom, chocolate, mocha, coconut and cigar box. Full-bodied with ripe, fine tannins and bright acidity. Balanced and supple with a velvety texture. Coffee notes on the long, succulent finish. 95% tempranillo and 5% graciano. Drink or hold."
95 points, James Suckling