Recommended Retail Price: 700+ RMB

Rioja is a province in Spain, located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. It covers part of the Ebro valley towards its north (bordering Basque country) and the Iberian Range in the south.

Rioja wines are typically a blend of fruit from its three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, although specific sub-region (zonas), village (municipios) and vineyard (viñedo singular) wines can now be labelled.

Rioja Alta and Alavesa, at the highest elevations, are considered to be the source of the brightest, most elegant fruit, while grapes from the warmer and drier, Rioja Oriental, produce wines with deep colour, great body and richness.

The grapes used in this bottle are from Rioja Alta, with the wine being a popular blend: 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha.

In the glass you will find a lovely dark red, and on the nose, aromatic dried strawberries and flowers. The wine has a full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a long and flavourful finish. No need to wait, this bottle is ready to drink now.

The story of La Rioja Alta began July 10, 1890. That day, five Riojan and Basque families who shared a passion for wine, founded the ‘Sociedad Vinícola de La Rioja Alta’. Thus began an exciting business venture whose founders enthusiastically shared the dream of making and ageing top-quality Rioja wines.

Today the estate owns more than 420 ha of vineyards in the best areas of La Rioja. The Tempranillo grape dominates their vineyards but they also have other varieties such as Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha.

Even though they incorporate the latest wine making technology, the winery still produces wine “the old-fashioned way” in American oak barrels using traditional racking and long ageing in both barrel and bottle, making them one of the best known and respected wine makers in the region.

95 points Decanter
94 points James Suckling
93 points Robert Parker