Profile

Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninmedium
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oakoak aged

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2017: best 2022 to 2035.

vintage5 yrs18 yrs20 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Tim Atkin reviewed 2022201790/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Full-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: red and black cherry, cedar, vanilla, dried herb

Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, spice

A pure-Tempranillo Reserva from estate fruit, known for its artist-label series: polished, savoury and balanced, a dependable modern Rioja.

What it pairs with

With cheese

Queso Camerano Our pick Curado Camerano, ripened at least 75 days, is hard, with a brown-green mould rind and a salty, slightly bitter finish. A Tempranillo-led Reserva, aged a year or more in oak, brings fruit that softens the bitterness, while the cheese's salt tames the tannin.

How to serve Lealtanza Reserva

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Lealtanza is Altanza's main range, with its art-label Reserva and Gran Reserva.

  1. 1998Bodegas Altanza founded at Fuenmayor

Facts

Producer
Bodegas Altanza · visiting guide
Grapes
Tempranillo (100%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 18 months in French and American oak
ABV
14.0%
Price
EUR 14 to 24 at retail
Drinking window
5 to 18 from vintage
First vintage
1998

Frequently asked about Lealtanza Reserva

What does Lealtanza Reserva taste like?

On the nose, red and black cherry, cedar, vanilla, dried herb. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, spice. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A pure-Tempranillo Reserva from estate fruit, known for its artist-label series: polished, savoury and balanced, a dependable modern Rioja.

When should I drink Lealtanza Reserva?

Drink 5 to 18 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Lealtanza Reserva?

Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.

Is Lealtanza Reserva vegan?

No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.

What grapes are in Lealtanza Reserva?

The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Tags

cellar worthy dry full body high acid medium tannin mood elegant mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price everyday still red tempranillo value pick

Taste it where it is made: tours and tastings in Rioja

Rioja: Bodegas Altanza

Visits this estate Guided tour1.5 hours4.5 from 12 reviewsfrom €25

Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with a tasting.

Check dates and book

Rioja: Wine tour with a winery owner

Starts 9 km awayGuided tour7 hours5.0 from 22 reviewsfrom €300

Taste selected wines at 3 different wineries in Rioja. Visit our own winery from 1881, La Bodega del Tesoro. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a wooden wine press.

Check dates and book

Wine tastings and winery visits in Rioja (14) · Wine tours and day trips in Rioja (13)

See all 59 bookable experiences in Rioja

← Back to wines in Rioja