Vina Albina Reserva by Bodegas Riojanas

Structure

Bodymedium

Tanninmedium

Acidityhigh

Sweetnessdry

Finishlong

Oakoak aged

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2016: best 2021 to 2034.

vintage5 yrs18 yrs20 yrs

Critic scores

Critic	Vintage	Score
Tim Atkin reviewed 2021	2016	89/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, cedar

Palate: red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury

A classical Reserva in the traditional Cenicero style: savoury, long-oaked and elegant, a dependable value Rioja.

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.More wines for lamb →
Chuleton de buey a la brasa A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip.More wines for steak →Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
Jamon iberico Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.More wines for ham →

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 Vina Albina Reserva

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: 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

Vina Albina is the house's traditional Reserva line.

1942Vina Albina brand established

Facts

Producer: Bodegas Riojanas · visiting guide
Grapes: Tempranillo (90%), Mazuelo (5%), Graciano (5%)
Classification: DOCa Rioja
Oak: Around 24 months in oak
ABV: 13.5%
Price: EUR 12 to 20 at retail
Drinking window: 5 to 18 from vintage
First vintage: 1942

Frequently asked about Vina Albina Reserva

What does Vina Albina Reserva taste like?

On the nose, red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, cedar. On the palate, red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A classical Reserva in the traditional Cenicero style: savoury, long-oaked and elegant, a dependable value Rioja.

When should I drink Vina Albina 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 Vina Albina 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 Vina Albina 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 Vina Albina Reserva?

The blend is Tempranillo (90%), Mazuelo (5%), Graciano (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Taste it where it is made: tastings near Bodegas Riojanas

Rioja: Bodegas Altanza

Starts 7 km awayGuided 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 16 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