Vina Arana Reserva

In the glass

Aroma: red cherry, dried herb, cedar, tobacco

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

The historic Reserva expression of Vina Arana before its Gran Reserva relaunch: elegant, savoury and fresh, the lighter classical counterpoint to Ardanza.

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 Arana spent decades as the house's more elegant Reserva before being relaunched as a Gran Reserva.

1. 1976 — Vina Arana Reserva established as the elegant house Reserva

Facts

Producer

La Rioja Alta S.A.

Grapes

Tempranillo (95%), Mazuelo (5%)

Classification

DOCa Rioja

Oak

Around 3 years in American oak

ABV

13.5%

Price

EUR 20 to 32 at retail

Drinking window

5 to 18 from vintage

First vintage

1976

Scores

• Tim Atkin 92 (2010 vintage, reviewed 2018)

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