In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryMedium finish

Aroma: red cherry, vanilla, cedar, dried herb

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

Labelled Reserva but styled as the house's accessible everyday red: pure Tempranillo with the signature American-oak lift, supple and savoury and a perennial value pick.

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.

History

Vina Alberdi is the house's entry Reserva, a pure-Tempranillo wine aged about two years in oak and consistently cited as one of Rioja's best-value Reservas.

  1. 1978 — Vina Alberdi established as the house entry Reserva

Facts

Producer
La Rioja Alta S.A.
Grapes
Tempranillo (100%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 2 years in American oak, with around 12 months in barrels previously used for the Gran Reservas
ABV
14.0%
Price
EUR 15 to 25 at retail
Drinking window
3 to 15 from vintage
First vintage
1978

Scores

  • Tim Atkin 92 (2017 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Tags

dry high acid medium body medium tannin medium term mood easygoing mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion weeknight old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with charcuterie pairs with red meat price trade up still red tempranillo value pick
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