“Great Rioja, as traditional as it gets, in good quantity and moderate (and often plain great) prices.” Luis Gutierrez, the Wine Advocate
“Quite simply, these are some of the finest Riojas that can grace your cellar: complex, refined, classic but without compromising fruit intensity and to reiterate: wines that speak about where they come from.” Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
Last year, La Rioja Alta became the first Rioja producer to produce three Gran Reservas with Viña Arana Gran Reserva sitting beside 904 and 890. Today we are delighted to release the second vintage of this wine, 2014. This was the only Gran Reserva produced in 2014 so it contains all the best fruit from across Rioja Alta’s vineyards.
The debut 2012 vintage from last year was awarded a platinum medal at Decanter World Wine Awards and 95 points from James Suckling. The 2014 is, without a doubt, even better. We were blown away: the elegance and complexity for the price is simply astonishing. It’s a real baby 904. The winemaking team used a higher toasting on the oak barrels in 2014, which has reduced the tannic grip and amped up the spice character and fresh fruit. Like all of Rioja Alta’s Gran Reservas, this new release could age for well over a decade, but the crunchy fruit, supple mouthfeel, and tobacco-leaf finish are simply irresistible now.
"Intense aromas with outstanding notes of redcurrants, raspberries, wild blackberries and ripe red plums. These create a complex bouquet alongside the balsamic notes from the barrel: vanilla, cloves, coffee, caramel and brioche. Elegant, vibrant and well-balanced on the palate, with smooth, sweet tannins and a savoury character on the finish. The long maturation has created exactly what we look for in our Gran Reservas: complexity and elegance. To enjoy now, but with a long life ahead.” Julio Sáenz, Head Winemaker