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 2014: best 2022 to 2039.
vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2021 | 2014 | 94/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: dried cherry, cedar, tobacco, balsamic, spice
Palate: red fruit, fine tannin, leather, savoury
The Haro house's prestige Gran Reserva from estate Tempranillo, aged in French oak: classical yet polished, savoury and built to age.
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. -
Roast partridge
Game and the wine's tobacco depth align.
How to serve La Vicalanda Gran 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
La Vicalanda is the prestige line of the historic Haro bodega, with the Gran Reserva from estate Tempranillo aged in French oak.
- 1991: La Vicalanda prestige line established
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Bilbainas · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (100%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 24 months in French oak, then long bottle ageing
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 30 to 55 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1991
Frequently asked about La Vicalanda Gran Reserva
What does La Vicalanda Gran Reserva taste like?
On the nose, dried cherry, cedar, tobacco, balsamic, spice. On the palate, red fruit, fine tannin, leather, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The Haro house's prestige Gran Reserva from estate Tempranillo, aged in French oak: classical yet polished, savoury and built to age.
When should I drink La Vicalanda Gran Reserva?
Drink 8 to 25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with La Vicalanda Gran 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 La Vicalanda Gran 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 La Vicalanda Gran Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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