Rioja: Bodegas Altanza
Visit a unique Rioja winery and discover Altanza, a place where wine tourism goes far beyond a tour with tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2017: best 2023 to 2035.
vintage6 yrs18 yrs20 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2017 | 91/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: red and black cherry, cedar, mocha, dried herb
Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, mineral
A modern, polished Reserva from the gravity-flow cellar: dark, balanced and savoury with fine tannins.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.
How to serve Baigorri Reserva
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- 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
The Baigorri Reserva is the estate's core gravity-flow red.
- 2002: Estate and Reserva launched at Samaniego
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Baigorri · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (95%), Graciano (3%), Garnacha (2%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 20 months in French oak
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 18 to 30 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 18 from vintage
Frequently asked about Baigorri Reserva
What does Baigorri Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red and black cherry, cedar, mocha, dried herb. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, mineral. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A modern, polished Reserva from the gravity-flow cellar: dark, balanced and savoury with fine tannins.
When should I drink Baigorri Reserva?
Drink 6 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 Baigorri 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 Baigorri 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 Baigorri Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (95%), Graciano (3%), Garnacha (2%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
Taste it where it is made: tours and tastings in Rioja
Rioja Wine Tour: 3 Wineries & Pintxos Lunch
Discover Rioja on a full-day wine tour visiting 3 wineries in Rioja Alta and Alavesa. Taste local wines, explore wine country and enjoy a traditional pintxos lunch.
RIOJA: WINE TOUR WITH THE OWNER OF A WINERY
Taste selected wines at 3 different wineries in Rioja. Visit our own 1881 winery, La Bodega del Tesoro. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a wooden wine press.