No doubt about it: ‘This is the best 890 in our history,' declares Julio Sáenz, technical director of La Rioja Alta. Aromatically, it is overflowing with cherries, sweet spices, vanilla, rose, truffle, tobacco… The palate is laden. Superbly approachable now but with many years ahead. A total of 25,000 bottles produced; only made in the very best years. Gently aged: rackings were reduced from 12 to 10 times over the six years in barrel.
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La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 890 2001 750ml
No doubt about it: ‘This is the best 890 in our history,' declares Julio Sáenz, technical director of La Rioja Alta. Aromatically, it is overflowing with cherries, sweet spices, vanilla, rose, truffle, tobacco… The palate is laden. Superbly approachable now but with many years ahead. A total of 25,000 bottles produced; only made in the very best years. Gently aged: rackings were reduced from 12 to 10 times over the six years in barrel.
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Rated 95 by Wine Advocate
2001 is a great vintage for all the wines from La Rioja Alta but the long-awaited 2001 Gran Reserva 890 is otherworldly. 2001 was a slow maturing vintage which produced smaller grapes especially in the old vineyards on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria in the villages of Brinas, Labastida and Villalba where the vineyards that make it into this wine are located. The final blend contains a majority of Tempranillo with 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo. The wine ferments with the natural yeasts attached to the grapes in stainless steel vats and is aged for six years in used American oak barrels with 12 manual rackings. A selection of the best barrels were blended together and bottled unfiltered in March 2008. Only 15,000 bottles were produced. It shows (even) younger and more concentrated than the 2004 904, a darker shade of red and a somehow backward and reticent nose (relatively speaking) of forest floor, cold bonfire, antique shop, truffles, game, sandalwood, nutmeg and clove. The fruit is also a little darker and the palate more austere, but still showing vibrant and supple, with clean flavors and a great finish. This is my favorite modern time 890. Bravo! Drink 2016-2026.
Rated 93 by Wine Spectator
Firm and polished, this red is a lovely example of the traditional style, with tea, tobacco and sanguine notes framing a core of dried cherry, orange peel and spice. Fresh, focused and long. Drink now through 2021. 4,150 cases made.
This is an excellent wine, currently drinking very well.Given the length of time it has spent in cask, the colour is showing some age. On the nose it is the quality of the aroma that particularly stands out, having complexity and a slight toastiness, that will continue to develop as time passes. It also shows complexity in the mouth. Well-rounded, with both body and finesse. The finish is elegant, intense and persistent. Although at a very attractive stage in its development, this wine will keep for some years. We recommend that it be served at 18oC, and that the bottle be opened for an hour before drinking.