Blog » Haro
-
The Crescendo of La Rioja Alta: Gran Reserva 890 & 904
Today, I'm happy to offer a range of La Rioja Alta's Gran Reserva 890 & 904, including their flagship 2009 Viña Ardanza at $40 per bottle.
Gran Reserva 904 comes from vines with an average age of 60-yrs-old comprised of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. Gran Reserva 890 comes from La Rioja Alta's very oldest vines, with 95% Tempranillo, supplemented by just 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo. Like all aged Rioja, both 904 and 890 take on notes tobacco, leather, cinnamon, bright red cherry, and a finish with very subtle vanilla bean and coconut.
But as you imagine, these aged reservas flaunt deeply layered and complex notes, all interwoven seamlessly with an unrelenting and haunting finish that exemplifies what Grand Cru level Rioja is all about. Examples going back to 1973 have been some of the most memorable wine experiences I've ever had. But, make no mistake, the extended aging at the winery means each is ready for prime time tonight.
Five families in 1890 from Rioja and the Basque country founded Sociedad Vinícola de La Rioja Alta with a common goal of making age-worthy, grand wines. Located just across the street from Lopez de Heredia, La Rioja Alta also has come to be respected as a prime address for terroir-driven Rioja, emphasizing elegance and transparency of Tempranillo at a time when a more extractive and heavy-handed style has come to garner the 100-point-scores.
Traditional winemaking in Rioja is centered around using American oak for aging. All barrels are air dried and manufactured on site, a rarity in the world of wine that allows for ideal quality control. At La Rioja Alta barrels utilized for aging are more aged and neutral, limiting the overt American oak flavors of coconut and dill that tend to dominate modern producers here, masking the more earth-inflected, tobacco, and red cherry notes that make Rioja one of a kind.
Rigorous selection of grapes is the foundation of producing world-class wines for so many decades here. Small refrigerated boxes are used to transfer clusters from the vineyards to the winery. The success at the estate over the years have given way to a brand new winery in 1996 where no expense was spared. La Rioja Alta marries the great tradition of winemaking in this region with the modern advancements now giving clean, precise, and soulful wines of place.- 1964, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1985, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 890, 904, Club de Cosechadores, Gran Reserva, Haro, La Rioja Alta, reserva, Rioja, Vina Ardanza, Vina Ardanza Late Release
-
Straight Outta Haro: Lopez de Heredia Back-Vintage Treasures
Founded in 1877, the winery has maintained a level of excellence and held onto a deeply traditional winemaking philosophy that's simply the model for Rioja today. When Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta began his venture he quickly realized that by purchasing grapes there was simply no way to ensure high quality. And with that, the Tondoñia vineyard was planted in 1913.Posted by Alexander Rosen
Today's offer also coincides withe one of the most long-awaited events of the year, when Lopez de Heredia's California importer announces small allocations of back-vintage Rioja wines sourced directly from the region.
Today, I'm happy to offer a small collection that has just arrived. In addition, today's list features other Rioja estates, all bottles coming directly from Spain through the same California importer.
Founded in 1877, the winery has maintained a level of excellence and held onto a deeply traditional winemaking philosophy that's simply the model for Rioja today. When Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta began his venture he quickly realized that by purchasing grapes there was simply no way to ensure high quality. And with that, the Tondoñia vineyard was planted in 1913.
* While the aged wines listed below are, no doubt, expensive, I implore you to consider the 2010 Rioja Crianza at $28 per bottle to see the magic of this historic Rioja estate from one of the most heralded vintages over the last many decades.
Viña Bosconia comes from the clay and limestone "El Bosque" vineyard located under a mile from the winery. The name "Bosconia" ia a bit of an ode to a style of wine made generations ago here called, “Rioja Cepa Borgoña” which contained a high portion of Pinot Noir (hence the rare Burgundy shaped bottle). Today, this cuvée is comprised of about 75% Tempranillo, 7% Garnacha, with the rest divided by Mazuelo and Graciano.
Viña Tondonia is also on clay and limestone, but planted with slightly more Garnacha. It is the most famed vineyard of Haro with its iconic position on the banks of the Ebro river. Tondonia is the more structured of the two wines, although both cuvées have proved they can age gracefully for many, many decades.
Traditional winemaking here relies on American oak, of course. But, the influence of new wood is minimal, if at all. Both the 2005 Bosconia Reserva and Tondonia Reserva are current releases from Lopez de Heredia's California importer. The Bosconia sees 5 years in wood prior to additional aging in bottle, and the Tondonia is aged 6 years in wood.
Where does Lopez de Heredia diverge from the other great traditional Rioja estates? I have always found an elegance and subtlely to both wines that stands out from the pack. Although not light in color, they both see less extraction than many of their neighbors. In short, they are the best case made in the world today for Tempranillo's ability to transmit terroir in the most delicate framework possible.
The inherent value in this estate-aging is really without peer in the world of wine. Not only are both vineyards regarded as Grand Crus of Spain, but they also offer a massive window of continued aging and development should you choose to cellar. And, at the same time, both wines are released to be enjoyed tonight without the need for significant decanting. Do not miss the two wines that personify Spain's traditional foundation like no other.
Recent Articles
-
The Crescendo of La Rioja Alta: Gran Reserva 890 & 904 September 30, 2019
-
Straight Outta Haro: Lopez de Heredia Back-Vintage Treasures September 20, 2019
Tags
- 1.5
- 1.5l
- 1964
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1973
- 1976
- 1978
- 1979
- 1985
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 1er
- 1er cru
- 2000
- 2001
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 3L
- 4 Monos
- 6 pack
- 750
- 890
- 904
- abrossar
- Abruzzo
- al
- alain
- albarin
- Albarino
- albe
- Albillo
- Alex Foillard
- Alfredo Maestro
- alicante bouchet
- Aligote
- Allemand
- Alsace
- Alto Piemonte
- alzinger
- Amarone
- American Oak
- Amity
- amphore
- Anjou
- antle vineyard
- Antonio galloni
- arbois
- Arbois-Pupillin
- Argentina
- Arinto
- arnot roberts
- asili
- atalier
- atoine foucault
- Aubert de Villaine
- Auguste Clape
- auslese
- austria
- austrian
- Aux Malconsorts
- auxey duresses
- avize
- avni
- ayler
- baby margaux
- back vintage
- Baden
- Baga
- bairrada
- Bandol
- Barbaresco
- Barbera
- barbera d'alba
- Barolo
- Barraida
- barrigards
- bartelemy
- Basque Country
- Basso
- bastardo
- Bates Ranch
- BB
- Beaujolais
- Beaujolais-Villages
- beaune
- beauroy
- Beer
- Belgium
- Benanti
- benchmark
- benje tinto
- bernard
- Beru
- Bianco
- Bien Nacido
- bienvenues batard
- Bierzo
- bilbro
- bildstock
- Biodynamic
- biondi
- blanc
- blanc de blancs
- blanco
- blau
- Blot
- blue fruit
- Bockenauer
- boisson
- Bordeaux
- Bordeaux Blend
- Botti
- boudignon
- boudots
- boulay
- Bourgogne
- bourgogne blanc
- Bourgueil
- Bramaterra
- Branco
- bressandes
- bretonniere
- Breze
- brunate
- brunate-Le coste
- brune
- Brunello di Montalcino
- brut
- brut nature
- bruyeres
- bugundy
- bunker hill
- burguet
- Burgundy
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- california
- Campania
- Canary Islands
- canneyt
- Cannonau
- cannubi
- cannubi (san lorenzo)
- cappuccio
- Carbonic
- Carignan
- carinyena
- carmenere
- caroline morey
- Carricante
- Cascina
- Cascina Francia
- Cassis
- castell
- cava
- Caves San Joao
- celler
- ceps centenaires
- Cerasuolo
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria
- certified
- Chablis
- chache
- Chaillot
- chalk
- chambertin
- Chambeyron
- chambolle
- Chambolle Musigny
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Champagne
- champange
- champans
- champs gains
- chapelle des bois
- Chardonnay
- chardoonay
- Charlemagne
- charlie trotter
- charlopin
- charpentrie
- charvin
- Chassagne Montrachet
- chateau
- Chateau Chalon
- Chateau Thivin
- Chateauneuf du Pape
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Chavignol
- Chehalem Mountains
- Chenas
- chenin
- Chenin Blanc
- Cherbaudes
- chevalier montrachet
- chianti
- Chianti Classico
- Chichee
- Chiroubles
- chiusa spagnolo
- Christiane
- Christoph Schaefer
- Cider
- citrine
- Clairette
- Clape
- Clear Lake
- clos
- Clos David
- clos de guichaux
- Clos de la Grand Coeur
- clos de la grand cour
- clos de la marchale
- Clos de la Rue
- clos des aigrots
- clos des chenes
- Clos des Ducs
- clos du bourg
- Clos du Chapitre
- clos du chateau des ducs
- clos du roy
- Clos du Verseuil
- CLos Prieur
- clos rougeard
- Clos Saint-Joseph
- clos st. jacques
- Clos Vougeot
- Club de Cosechadores
- co
- Coastal
- Colin
- collier
- Collio
- collio goriziano
- Collita Roja
- Columbia Gorge
- Combe Aux Moines
- combottes
- Comtes Lafon
- conterno
- contrada
- contrada barbabecchi
- contrada campo RE
- contrada feudo di mezzo
- contrada zottorinoto
- Cool Climate
- Coombsville
- Corison
- Cornas
- cornelissen
- cornu
- cortese
- corton
- corton-bressandes
- coste
- Cotat
- cote
- Cote Brune
- Cote d'Or
- Cote de Beaune
- Cote de Brouilly
- cote de nuits
- Cote Rotie
- Côte-Rôtie
- coteaux champenois
- Coteaux de Dijon
- Cotes de Provence
- Cotes du Jura
- Cotes du Rhone
- coulee de serrant
- CR
- Crinquand
- crozes
- Crozes-Hermitage
- cru
- cry
- CS
- cuvee
- cuvee alexandrine
- cuvee reserve
- Cuvee Syrah
- Cuvee Tradition
- cuvee vigne alte
- d'alba
- D'Angerville
- Dagueneau
- Dauvissat
- dd
- de
- De Montille
- de valtuille
- del
- dessus
- dexter
- Dijon
- Dogliani
- Dolcetto
- Dolomites
- domaine
- Domaine Chave
- Domaine de la Cadette
- Domaine du Bagnol
- domestic
- dominik Huber
- dominique
- Domprobst
- double magnum
- dry
- Dry Riesling
- duc des nauves
- Dujac
- dutraive
- east block
- Ecueil
- edmond
- Eichberg
- el rapolao
- electric
- emilien
- En Champans
- En Combe Roy
- encinas
- enfield
- enfield wine co
- Eola
- Eola-Amity Hills
- eric
- Eric Asimov
- estate
- Etna
- extra brut
- fass 12
- fass 7
- faviken
- fellom ranch
- Felseneck
- Female Winemaker
- Fiano
- Fixin
- Fleurie
- Fontanasanta
- food tread
- for ross-seaview
- Foradori
- forest
- forets
- fossati
- fourrier
- fox hill
- France
- francesco
- Francia
- Francomar
- frank
- Frappato
- Frauenberg
- frederic
- Freisa
- French Alps
- fresh
- freu
- Friulano
- Friuli
- Frohlich
- Fronholz
- fruity
- Fuoripista
- Galicia
- Gamay
- Gang of Four
- Garnacha
- Gattinara
- Genevrieres
- gerard
- German
- Germany
- gevrey chambertin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- geyserville
- GG
- Ghemme
- Giacomo
- Gigondas
- Gilles
- giulia
- giuseppe
- Glou Glou
- gnemiz
- godello
- gold standard
- Goldkapsel
- Goulots
- Gour de Chaule
- Graach
- gran reserva
- Granato
- grance
- Grand Cru
- Granite Terroir
- graviers
- Grenache
- Grenache Gris
- greves
- Grille midi
- griotte
- Griotte Chambertin
- grolleau
- Grosjean
- Grosses Gewachs
- Grotte Alte
- Grower Champagne
- gruenchers
- gruner veltliner
- gruyaches
- GSM Blend
- guiberteau
- hajo
- halbtrocken
- Haro
- haut
- haut medoc
- haute-cotes de beaune
- Hautes cote de nuits
- hayne vineyard
- haynes
- haynes chardonnay
- hectare
- henri jayer
- hermitage
- Hermitage Blanc
- Hermtage
- heron lake
- Hills
- himmelreich
- hope well
- Hubacker
- hubert
- huet
- IGT
- indiana jones
- italian
- Italy
- Jacky
- jacques
- jean luc
- jean-marie
- jeroboam
- jewel
- joao
- john lockwood
- joly
- Jon Bonne
- Jura
- kabinett
- Kallstadter
- Keller
- Kermit Lynch
- Kimmeridgian Soil
- king
- kings vineyard
- kirschenmann
- Klaus Peter Keller
- koehler
- koehler-ruprecht
- Kronos Vineyard
- kupp
- kye
- l'esprit
- l'etonnat monsieur victor
- l;ultime
- La Bidode
- La Charme Aux Pretes
- la charmes aux pretres
- La Chatelaine
- la claudrina
- la del vivo
- la fresnaye
- la Geynale
- La guiraude
- la madonne
- La Rioja Alta
- la ripaille
- la taille aux loups
- la vitoriana
- lafarge
- Lambic
- langhe
- Languedoc
- Late Release
- Lavaux Saint Jacques
- le chapitre
- le clos
- le coste
- le haut-lieu
- le mesnil
- le mont
- Le Pied de la Rue
- le poutet
- le pur
- Left Bank Bordeaux
- leroy
- les arboises
- Les Arvelets
- Les Barrigards
- les beaux regards
- les caillerets
- Les Cazetiers
- les champs canet
- les champs perdrix
- Les Chapaudaises
- les chaumees
- les chevalieres
- Les Crais
- les cran
- Les Fuees
- Les Grandes Places
- Les Grands Epenots
- les longeroies
- Les macherelles
- les manyes
- Les Minots
- Les Mitans
- les monts fournois
- les motelles
- les moulins
- Les Pallieres
- Les petits Vougeots
- les peyrouses
- Les Pezerolles
- Les Riceys
- les rieux
- Les Rugiens
- Les Rugiens-Bas
- Les Sentiers
- Les Suchots
- Les Taillepieds
- les tosses
- Lessona
- library
- Lieu Dit en Papolet
- lieu-dit
- Limestone
- limit
- lisbon
- little hill
- little hillwest block
- loibner
- loire
- Loire Valley
- Louis/Dressner
- low sulphur
- lust
- lytton springs
- Macabeau
- Macon
- Madrid
- magic
- Magma
- magnum
- mailloche
- malbec
- Malvasia
- Manzoni Bianco
- Marc Roy
- margaux
- marl
- marsannay
- marsanne rousanne
- martinenga
- Mascarello
- Mazis-Chambertin
- McKinlay
- mead ranch
- Mediterranean
- medoc
- Melon
- Melon de Bourgogne
- mencia
- mendocino
- Mercurey
- Merlot
- Mersault
- mes favorites
- Meursault
- michel lafarge
- mimis mind
- mind bending
- mix pack
- moccagatta
- monfortino
- monopole
- Mont Blanc
- Montagne de Reims
- Montalcino
- montbenault
- Monte bello
- montee de tonnere
- Montee de Tonnerre
- Montefalco
- montefico
- Montepulciano
- montevertine
- Monthelie
- montmains
- montrachet
- monttrachet
- morey
- Morey Saint Denis
- Morey-Saint-Denis
- Morgon
- Mosel
- moulin de tricot
- mount eden
- mountains
- Mourvedre
- Muenchberg
- mugnier
- munjebel
- Muscadet
- musigny
- musingy
- Nahe
- napa
- Napa Valley
- Naples
- narvaux
- native yeast
- natur
- Natural Wine
- Neal Martin
- Neal Rosenthal
- Nebbiolo
- nerello
- Nerello Mascalese
- Nero d'Avola
- Nero di Lupo
- New California
- New York Times
- no additives
- No Sulfur
- non-vintage
- north coast
- Northen Rhone
- northern California
- Northern Rhone
- Nosiola
- nouvelle R
- Nuits
- nuits saint george
- nuits saint georges
- Nuits-Saint-Georges
- NV
- Oak Knoll District
- oberberg
- Occhipinti
- off dry
- oger
- Old School
- old vine
- Old Vines
- Old World
- Orange
- Oregon
- organic
- Ostertag
- oubilee
- outis
- outlier
- Overnoy
- PA
- Pardas
- paso robles
- Passetoutgrain
- Patagonia
- patchwork
- Patrick Baudouin
- pearl
- Peñafiel
- Penedes
- pergole torte
- pernand vergelesses
- Perrieres
- peter martin ray
- petillant
- petit verdot
- Petite Arvine
- petite syrah
- Peyrouses
- Pezerolles
- Pfalz
- Pfersigberg
- pian del ciampolo
- pie
- Piedmont
- piedmontese
- pierre
- pierre gonon
- Pietra Marina
- pigs stomach
- Pineau d'Aunis
- Pinot Grigio
- pinot gris
- pinot meunier
- Pinot Noir
- piuze
- Ploussard
- Poco do Lobo
- Pommard
- ponca
- porcaria
- porto
- Portugal
- poruzots
- poruzots-dessus
- Poulsard
- premier
- premier cru
- premier cry
- pretty horses
- priorat
- Produttori
- produttori del barbaresco
- Provence
- PT
- Puligny Montrachet
- Puligny-Montrachet
- pycm
- QBA
- qualitatswein
- R
- rabaja
- Rajat Parr
- raul perez
- ravera
- red
- red blend
- reduction
- reflet d'Antan
- Regnie
- reiserva speciale
- remensis rose
- remi jobard
- Renaissance
- reserva
- reserve
- rheinberg
- rheingau
- Rheinhessen
- Rhone
- rias baixas
- Ribeira Sacra
- Ribolla Gialla
- Ridge
- ried
- Riesling
- right bank
- Rioja
- riserva
- Robert michel
- Roccalini
- rodchen
- romanee
- ronco
- rosae
- Rose
- rose-marie
- rosso
- Rouge
- Rougeard
- Roussillon
- RR
- rubicon
- ruprecht
- russian river
- ruwer
- Ruwer Valley
- Saar
- Sagrantino
- saint
- Saint Amour
- Saint Aubin
- saint emilion
- Saint Esteph
- saint jacques
- saint joseph
- Saint-Aubin
- Saint-Joseph
- San Fereolo
- san lorenzo
- San Zuan
- Sancerre
- Sangiovese
- sans soufre
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- Santa Maria Valley
- Santa Rita Hills
- santenay
- Sardinia
- Sashi Moorman
- Saumaged
- saumagen
- Saumur
- Sauvignon Blanc
- savagnin
- Savoie
- Schafer
- Schäfer-Fröhlich
- Schoenfels
- sec
- sekt
- senior
- sergio manetti
- Serine
- Sgarzon
- Siccagno
- Sicily
- Sierra de Gredos
- Sigaut
- singular
- singulier
- sisters
- sitges
- Skin Contact
- Skin Fermented White
- Slate
- small production
- smaragd
- sol
- Sonoma
- Sonoma Coast
- Sour Beer
- sous fretille
- sous la tour
- Southern France
- Southern Rhone
- SP68
- Spain
- sparkling
- Spatburgunder
- spatlese
- spicy
- st. amour
- st. helena
- Sta. Rita Hills
- stater west
- steinertal
- stems
- strawberry
- summer of riesling
- Super Tuscan
- Superiore
- supernova
- sweetwater
- sylvain pataiile
- Sylvain Pataille
- Syrah
- Taille aux loups
- Taillepieds
- tegan passalacqua
- tegernseerhof
- temple of doom
- tempranillo
- Teroldego
- Terrasse du Diable
- Terroir
- Tesson
- Thanksgiving
- The New Spain
- the plow
- thibaud
- thomas savre
- three corner
- thunder mountain
- tinto
- tintorera
- tissier
- tocai
- Torrette
- torroja
- toscana
- Touriga Nacional
- tre tine
- Trebbiano
- Trentino
- tribut
- triennes
- trocken
- trois cepage
- trousseau
- tuffeau
- turley
- Tuscany
- ulteria
- Umbria
- UNESCO
- unicorn tears
- USA
- VA
- vacheron
- vadot
- Vaillons
- vajra
- val
- Vallee d'Aoste
- valmur
- Valpolicella
- Value
- Vare Vineyrad
- Vatan
- vdf
- Veneto
- venezia
- Verduno
- vergers
- Vermentino
- Vermouth
- Verzy
- vezelay
- vi
- Vieilles Vignes
- vielles vignes
- Vigne Rovettaz
- village
- Villages
- villet
- vin de france
- Vina Ardanza
- Vina Ardanza Late Release
- vineyard
- Vinous
- Viognier
- violet
- Volnay
- volnay vendanges selectionnees
- vosne
- Vosne Romanee
- Vosne-Romanee
- Vougeot
- Vouvray
- wachau
- walkenberg
- waterhorse ridge
- Watson Ranch Chardonnay
- weiss
- west block
- white
- White Burgundy
- Whole Cluster
- Willamette
- Willamette Valley
- Willi Schaefer
- wine
- wine advocate
- World Heritage Site
- Xarello
- yann
- young
- yves
- Zellberg
- Zero Sulfur
- Zev Rovine
- Zinfandel