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 2021 to 2034.
vintage5 yrs18 yrs20 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Atkin reviewed 2022 | 2016 | 90/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: red and black cherry, cedar, tobacco, dried herb
Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, spice
A polished modern Reserva from the Briones estate: dark, balanced and savoury with fine tannins, a dependable value Rioja.
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 Vivanco 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. 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
The Vivanco Reserva is the estate's classical aged red.
- 1998: Modern Vivanco Reserva style established
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Vivanco · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (10%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 24 months in French and American oak
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 14 to 24 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 18 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1998
Frequently asked about Vivanco Reserva
What does Vivanco Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red and black cherry, cedar, tobacco, dried herb. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, savoury, spice. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A polished modern Reserva from the Briones estate: dark, balanced and savoury with fine tannins, a dependable value Rioja.
When should I drink Vivanco Reserva?
Drink 5 to 18 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Vivanco 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 Vivanco 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 Vivanco Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (10%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.
Tags
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