Viña Arana Gran Reserva 2014

The Gran Reserva Arana from La Rioja Alta is only made in beautiful years. 2012 was an unusual year in Rioja because it was warm and dry, but the wines are fresher than those of 2011. The wine has matured in oak Barriques for 3 months and is therefore a full-fledged Gran Reserva. The Viña Arana Gran Reserva shows that character, because it is ripe and concentrated but also balanced and elegant with fresh acids. In the nose we smell notes of undergrowth, wet forest floor, herbs and smoke, leather and the Arana Gran Reserva is very recognizable as Rioja. It is clean, aromatic and open. Very pleasant and approachable, with enough grip to gastronomically stand its ground.

- The blend consists of 95% Tempranillo from 40-year-old vines in Las Cuevas, El Palo and Las Monjas in Rodezno, complemented with 5% Graciano from the Montecillo estate in Fuenmayor. The Graciano gives the wine an aromatic intensity and acidity, to carry the structure and elegance of the Tempranillo. The grapes are vinified separately in three-year-old American oak for three years, and racked as few times as possible. After blending, it was given a further three years in bottle to mature.
- 2012 was marked by drought in Rioja until rains arrived in September, refreshing the vines and allowing the grapes to attain perfect ripeness with superb concentration of flavour. These excellent conditions lead directly to the creation of Arana Gran Reserva.
- The wine was named after one of the families that have long been at the helm of La Rioja Alta, a company founded in 1895. This wine will replace the original Arana Reserva, whose last vintage was 2011, and will only be made in vintages that meet the winemaker's high standards.

An excellent wine from La Rioja Alta - producing among the world's most aromatically complex, food-friendly wines, that can truly stand comparison to the top Bordeaux and Burgundies.

With no 904 and 890 release in 2014 only the best fruit was used for the Viña Arana Gran Reserva.





Very good commentary from Neal Martin. 91 points. "Finally, there was the 2014 Viña Arana Rioja Gran Reserva, which comprises 94% Tempranillo from Las Cuevas, El Palo and Las Monjas and 6% Graciano from Montecillo. This was aged in American oak for three years and bottled in June 2018. Exhibiting just a modicum of browning on the rim, it offers crushed strawberry, field mushroom, clove and singed leather on the nose, hints of vine tomato and balsamic following with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, lithe tannins that lend this Gran Reserva its smooth veneer. Moderate in depth, it is classic in style and no bodybuilder. It remains rather understated toward the finish, offering soy-infused red fruit, sour cherries, orange peel, porcini and dried herbs."





Highly rated by Tim Atkin - 94 points. "Old-fashioned Rioja at its glorious best". One of the most outrageously enjoyable wines I've had in months, this brand new release from La Rioja Alta is a glorious way with which to celebrate the winery's 130th birthday. Produced from 94 per cent Tempranillo and 6 per cent Graciano, it was aged in oak for three years and in bottle for a further two before release. It's unashamedly seductive with its sweet, ripe red and dark fruit, spice, herbs, vanilla and its soft, gentle tannins and long finish. Make no mistake, a claret or burgundy of this quality and this maturity would be at least twice the price.

From Matthew Jukes - "This wine is one of the most rewarding and classically-shaped wines I have tasted from this property in a long while and the fact that bottles only cost £35 makes this release an even more compelling proposition. [...  ]It is the epitome of historic Rioja"

Food matches: Why not try with a beautiful pasta dish, or maybe a hearty beef bourguignon or Cassoulet.