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 2016: best 2024 to 2041.
vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2016 | 94/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral
Palate: concentrated dark fruit, velvet tannin, graphite, savoury
The estate's icon red from very old vines cropped to just three bunches per plant; dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak.
What it pairs with
-
Venison loin
Dark game meets the concentrated cassis and graphite. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A char-grilled beef chop for the estate icon. -
Aged hard cheese
Crystalline cheese sharpens the mineral finish.
How to serve Hiru Racimos
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Venison loin, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Aged hard cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Hiru Racimos, meaning three bunches, comes from very old vines pruned to just three clusters each, the estate's icon.
- 1994: First Hiru Racimos vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Luis Canas · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (15%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 20 months in new French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 60 to 110 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1994
Frequently asked about Hiru Racimos
What does Hiru Racimos taste like?
On the nose, black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral. On the palate, concentrated dark fruit, velvet tannin, graphite, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. The estate's icon red from very old vines cropped to just three bunches per plant; dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak.
When should I drink Hiru Racimos?
Drink 8 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 Hiru Racimos?
Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Aged hard cheese. Dark game meets the concentrated cassis and graphite.
Is Hiru Racimos 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 Hiru Racimos?
The blend is Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (15%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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