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 2016: best 2026 to 2046.
vintage10 yrs30 yrs32 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2016 | 96/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, cassis, graphite, violet, mocha
Palate: concentrated black fruit, espresso, velvet tannin, mineral
Muga's icon wine, a tiny-production Tempranillo-Graciano from old vines aged in new French oak; concentrated, polished and ageworthy, the house's collector bottle.
What it pairs with
-
Venison loin
Dark game meets Aro's concentrated cassis-and-graphite density. -
Chuleton de buey
Find chuleton de buey on TableJourney →
A grand aged-beef chop for the house's icon wine. -
Aged hard cheese
Crystalline cheese sharpens the long mineral finish.
How to serve Aro
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. Venison loin, Chuleton de buey, Aged hard cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Aro is Muga's icon wine, made in tiny quantities from selected old-vine parcels and aged in new French oak.
- 2000: First Aro vintage as the house icon wine
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Muga · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (70%), Graciano (30%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 24 months in new French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 200 to 400 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2000
Frequently asked about Aro
What does Aro taste like?
On the nose, black cherry, cassis, graphite, violet, mocha. On the palate, concentrated black fruit, espresso, velvet tannin, mineral. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. Muga's icon wine, a tiny-production Tempranillo-Graciano from old vines aged in new French oak; concentrated, polished and ageworthy, the house's collector bottle.
When should I drink Aro?
Drink 10 to 30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Aro?
Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey and Aged hard cheese. Dark game meets Aro's concentrated cassis-and-graphite density.
Is Aro 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 Aro?
The blend is Tempranillo (70%), Graciano (30%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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