Red dry
La Rioja Alta "Viña Arana" Gran Reserva Rioja 2017 is an elegant, mature and refreshing red wine in the classic Rioja style. It is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano grapes grown in the Rodezno and Fuenmayor areas. The wine is matured for three years in American oak barrels made by the winery itself, and it is traditionally transferred from one barrel to another every six months.
Raspberries, blackberries, red currants and other red berries are revealed in the intense aroma. Fruit notes are complemented by nuances of cedar, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, coffee mocha and roasted caramel.
The taste is harmonious and subtly complex. Fresh acidity gives the wine vitality, while soft, smooth tannins give it an elegant structure. The aftertaste is long, fresh and spicy.
Serve at 16–18 °C. Goes well with grilled or braised beef, lamb, game, rich meat stews, spiced meaty fish and mature cheeses.
Deep, savory nose of vanilla, mussels, graphite, iron and black pepper. Vibrant and juicy, with a medium to full body and fine-grained tannins. Lots of energy, with a long, long finish. 95% tempranillo and 5% graciano. Still quite young. Drink or hold.
The 2017 Viña Arana Gran Reserva, produced with Tempranillo and a kick from 5% Graciano (not with Mazuelo like in the past) from the Montecillo estate in Fuenmayor. The destemmed and crushed grapes were previously selected by an optical machine and fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts for 16 days. The wine matured in American oak barrels for three years, during which time it was racked six times, keeping the two varieties separate, then blending them before the bottling operation. The wine feels closed and took time in the glass to start opening up, showing quite young and undeveloped. It's quite monolithic, solid and seamless, but it has not developed the complexity and nuance of other wines here. It has good ripeness, 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.66 and five grams of acidity. It was bottled in January 2022.
Bodegas La Rioja Alta is undoubtedly a representative of old Rioja, exceptionally valuing and cultivating the region's traditional winemaking methods. Their “Gran Reserva” wine is aged for no less than six years in barrel and a further two years in bottle before reaching the consumer, embodying patience and mastery. The high-altitude vineyards of La Rioja Alta, with their unique conditions, lend a subtlety to the wines, sometimes even reminiscent of Burgundy’s ‘Pinot Noir’. While the La Rioja Alta group also includes wineries in Galicia (Rias Baixas) and Ribera del Duero (Burgos), it is their traditional Rioja style that remains their hallmark.
Wine Style
La Rioja Alta wines are characterized by elegance, complexity, and longevity. They reflect the harmony between Rioja terroir and traditional winemaking.
Prestigious Vineyards
La Rioja Alta manages high-altitude vineyards in the Rioja Alta region:
These unique vineyard characteristics and meticulous work in the vineyard are the foundation for the distinctive character of La Rioja Alta wines.
Aging and Drinking Window
La Rioja Alta wines are crafted for slow enjoyment. The long aging process in oak barrels and bottles imparts exceptional complexity and harmony. While these wines can be enjoyed in their youth, their true potential unfolds after many years of bottle aging. They are wines valued for their longevity and ability to improve over time.
