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 2017: best 2020 to 2032.
vintage3 yrs15 yrs17 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2017 | 92/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
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.
How to serve Vina Alberdi 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 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.
- 1978: Vina Alberdi established as the house entry Reserva
Facts
- Producer
- La Rioja Alta S.A. · visiting guide
- 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
Frequently asked about Vina Alberdi Reserva
What does Vina Alberdi Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, vanilla, cedar, dried herb. On the palate, red fruit, sweet spice, supple tannin, savoury. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a medium finish. 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.
When should I drink Vina Alberdi Reserva?
Drink 3 to 15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Vina Alberdi 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 Alberdi 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 Alberdi Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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