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 2011: best 2016 to 2036.
vintage5 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2011 | 94/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: ripe cherry, clove, cocoa, dried fig, cedar
Palate: black cherry, leather, sweet spice, savoury depth
The richer, more Burgundian sibling to Tondonia, from a warmer estate vineyard; rounder fruit and spice but still carrying the house's signature freshness and old-oak savour.
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. -
Roast wood pigeon
Bosconia's clove and cocoa depth flatters mature game.
How to serve Vina Bosconia 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 Bosconia is the warmer, Pinot-noir-like estate vineyard of the house. The Reserva is fuller and rounder than Tondonia but follows the same long American-oak ageing regime.
- 1922: Vina Bosconia estate established as a separate cuvee
- 2020: Bosconia recognised as the richer counterpoint to Tondonia
Facts
- Producer
- R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (15%), Graciano (2%), Mazuelo (3%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 5 years in American oak barrels with biannual racking, then bottle ageing
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 30 to 55 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1922
Frequently asked about Vina Bosconia Reserva
What does Vina Bosconia Reserva taste like?
On the nose, ripe cherry, clove, cocoa, dried fig, cedar. On the palate, black cherry, leather, sweet spice, savoury depth. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The richer, more Burgundian sibling to Tondonia, from a warmer estate vineyard; rounder fruit and spice but still carrying the house's signature freshness and old-oak savour.
When should I drink Vina Bosconia Reserva?
Drink 5 to 25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Vina Bosconia 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 Bosconia 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 Bosconia Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (15%), Graciano (2%), Mazuelo (3%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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