La Rioja Alta
Showing 1 thru -9 of 9
La Rioja Alta 1989 Gran Reserva 904 Tempranillo (Rioja)
- $48
Traditional Rioja, the delicate cherry and orange-peel scents mingle with those brought on by long aging in American oak-vanilla, cinnamon, cream, even coconut. A lovely, mature drink.
— W.E.
(11/15/1999)
La Rioja Alta 1995 Gran Reserva 904 Red (Rioja)
- $60
Big and noisy for a wine with 13 years of age behind it. The bouquet mixes raisin, tobacco and leathery aromas with great results. The palate is stylish and flows nicely, with tobacco, dried fruit and tomato flavors. Excellent on the finish, with classy oak and leather. Drink now through 2015. A Europvin, Christopher Cannan selection, imported by multiple importers…
— M.S.
(11/15/2008)
La Rioja Alta 1987 Gran Reserva 890 Tempranillo (Rioja)
- $120
It’s old, it’s brown, and it’s good. Not much red fruit is left in this classic, but the peach and apricot flavors are intriguing, and the lasting acidity is keeping it surprisingly fresh.
— M.S.
(10/1/2003)
La Rioja Alta 1998 Vina Alberdi Reserva Tempranillo (Rioja)
- $23
Rather thin and transparent to the eye, but that lightness doesn’t translate into it being a thin, nothing wine. Just the opposite: It’s loaded with leather, cranberry and tea aromas and brisk cherry and cranberry flavors. Some chocolate on the finish adds heft to this old-school wine that really seems to have been made to go with food.
— M.S.
(3/1/2004)
La Rioja Alta 1996 Vina Ardanza Reserva Tempranillo (Rioja)
- $28
A classic old-school Rioja in that it has strong dill aromas on a bouquet of dried fruit, leaves and flower petals. The color is fading, but the mouth is alive with raisin, plum, cinnamon and tomato flavors. The acidity is huge; will be best with food.
— M.S.
(10/1/2003)
La Rioja Alta 1994 Gran Reserva 904 Tempranillo (Rioja)
- $53
Leaner than ideal on the nose, with hot aromas of leather, earth and peach pit. A bit sharp in flavor, showing more pie cherry and apricot than anything else. Still a classic, however, but best be prepared for tea and juice notes more than beef and brawn.
— M.S.
(9/1/2004)
La Rioja Alta 2001 Viña Alberdi Selección Especial Red (Rioja)
- $27
Alberdi from La Rioja Alta is a slight throwback. The nose has more than a twinge of tomato leaf, wet clay, tobacco and raisin, but also maturity and floral notes akin to a good Burgundy. Meanwhile, the palate pitches tomato leaf, cranberry, tobacco and dried plum flavors. A little bit light and reedy by modern standards, but alluring as well. Drink now. A Europvin…
— M.S.
(12/15/2008)
La Rioja Alta 2000 Vina Ardanza Reserva Red (Rioja)
- $40
Viña Ardanza is always a lean, stripped-back Rioja, and frankly it has never been a personal favorite. The 2000 is typically tight and austere, with minty red-fruit aromas mixed with herbs and vanilla. The palate is sharp-edged, with bold acidity. Thus if it’s a citric wine with light fruit and classic zest that you want, Ardanza will please. A Europvin…
— M.S.
(11/15/2008)
Showing 1 thru -9 of 9
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