In the glass
Aroma: mature plum, leather, tobacco, cedar spice
Palate: concentrated dark cherry, dried fruit, cedar, balsamic mineral
Alenza is the prestige Gran Reserva from Condado de Haza: mature plum, leather, tobacco and cedar spice from 24 months in mixed-species oak and 36 months minimum bottle ageing at the La Horra estate.
What it pairs with
-
Prime Castilian beef with bone marrow
Mature, complex tannins and leather need the fat and richness of aged prime beef. -
Game bird with juniper reduction
Leather and tobacco notes in the wine complement gamey birds with aromatic juniper. -
Manchego DOP viejo with quince
The wine's mature complexity pairs elegantly with crystalline aged cheese and sweet quince.
How to serve Alenza 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. Prime Castilian beef with bone marrow, Game bird with juniper reduction, Manchego DOP viejo with quince. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Alenza Gran Reserva is the flagship label from Condado de Haza, applying Alejandro Fernandez's traditional long-ageing approach: 24 months in oak and a minimum of 36 months in bottle before release. Made only in exceptional years from the best old-vine La Horra parcels.
- 1998 — First Alenza Gran Reserva released from Condado de Haza's best La Horra parcels
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Condado de Haza
- Grapes
- Tinto Fino
- Classification
- DO Ribera del Duero
- Oak
- 24 months in French and American oak, followed by 36 months bottle ageing
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 55-80 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1998
Frequently asked about Alenza Gran Reserva
What does Alenza Gran Reserva taste like?
On the nose, mature plum, leather, tobacco, cedar spice. On the palate, concentrated dark cherry, dried fruit, cedar, balsamic mineral. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, medium acidity with a long finish. Alenza is the prestige Gran Reserva from Condado de Haza: mature plum, leather, tobacco and cedar spice from 24 months in mixed-species oak and 36 months minimum bottle ageing at the La Horra estate.
When should I drink Alenza Gran Reserva?
Drink 10-25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Alenza Gran Reserva?
Prime Castilian beef with bone marrow is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Game bird with juniper reduction and Manchego DOP viejo with quince. Mature, complex tannins and leather need the fat and richness of aged prime beef.
What grapes are in Alenza Gran Reserva?
The blend is Tinto Fino. The wine is classified as DO Ribera del Duero.