La Rioja Alta : Gran Reserva 890 1995

Characteristics and tasting advice for La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 1995

Tasting

Appearance
The color displays a brick-red hue with golden highlights.

Nose
The bouquet stands out for its aromatic intensity and remarkable elegance. It reveals toasted and balsamic notes, accompanied by hints of vanilla and cinnamon that delicately envelope ripe fruit aromas.

Palate
On the palate, this wine reveals a generous and perfectly balanced structure. Silky tannins, the result of long aging, provide a refined texture that lingers on a persistent and complex finish.

Food and wine pairing

This Gran Reserva 890 1995 pairs beautifully with grilled red meats, herb-crusted lamb Provençal-style, game in sauce, and characterful aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Gran Reserva 890 1995 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 18°C (64°F). This exceptional wine will continue to evolve harmoniously and can be cellared until around 2030.

An exceptional Gran Reserva from La Rioja

The estate

La Rioja Alta is a historic house founded in 1890 and based in Haro. This family-owned estate shines in La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Rías Baixas. Its hallmarks include the Gran Reservas 890 and 904, the estate’s emblematic cuvées.

The vineyard

The vines for Gran Reserva 890 are planted in the municipalities of Briñas, Labastida, and Villalba for Tempranillo, as well as in the Melchorón I and II vineyards in Rodezno for Mazuelo. These Rioja terroirs benefit from ideal climatic conditions that allow the traditional grape varieties of the appellation to express themselves optimally.

The vintage

The 1995 vintage benefited from an ideal growing season with a hot, low-rainfall summer. Veraison occurred about 20 days earlier than usual. September brought moderate daytime temperatures and very cool nights, promoting excellent ripening. Harvest took place on October 19 and 20, with cold nighttime temperatures enabling a natural pre-fermentation maceration that enriched the aromatic profile.

Winemaking and aging

Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations for Gran Reserva 890 1995 lasted 15 days at a controlled temperature of 30°C (86°F). The wine was transferred to barrels in June 1996 for 6 years of aging in American oak, punctuated by 12 manual rackings. Bottling took place in July 2002, directly from the barrels, without filtration.

Grape varieties

Tempranillo (96%), Graciano (3%), and Mazuelo.