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 2025 to 2042.
vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2017 | 95/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: blackberry, cassis, mocha, violet, cedar
Palate: black fruit, espresso, ripe tannin, graphite
The estate's modern, French-oak-aged prestige red with a dash of Cabernet: darker, denser and more international in cut than the classic Reserva while keeping Rioja freshness.
What it pairs with
-
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A char-grilled aged-beef chop matches Dalmau's firm tannin and mocha oak. -
Venison loin
Dark game and the wine's cassis-and-espresso density are a natural fit. -
Aged Manchego
Hard sheep cheese balances the wine's grippy structure.
How to serve Dalmau Reserva
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. Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Venison loin, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Dalmau is the estate's modern prestige red introduced in the 1990s, built on a small Tempranillo parcel with Cabernet and Graciano and aged in new French oak.
- 1994: First Dalmau vintage as the estate's modern flagship
Facts
- Producer
- Marques de Murrieta · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (83%), Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), Graciano (5%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 to 20 months in new French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 55 to 90 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1994
Frequently asked about Dalmau Reserva
What does Dalmau Reserva taste like?
On the nose, blackberry, cassis, mocha, violet, cedar. On the palate, black fruit, espresso, ripe tannin, graphite. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The estate's modern, French-oak-aged prestige red with a dash of Cabernet: darker, denser and more international in cut than the classic Reserva while keeping Rioja freshness.
When should I drink Dalmau Reserva?
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 Dalmau Reserva?
Chuleton de buey a la brasa is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Venison loin and Aged Manchego. A char-grilled aged-beef chop matches Dalmau's firm tannin and mocha oak.
Is Dalmau 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 Dalmau Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (83%), Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), Graciano (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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