(75 customer reviews)

La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010

$229.95
14.00% /
750ml /
Vintage: 2010
  • WA 97
  • JS 97
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La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010, crafted by winemaker Julio Saenz at the prestigious La Rioja Alta winery, is a remarkable wine that showcases the excellence of the 2010 harvest. This vintage, considered one of the best of the 21st century, benefited from ideal weather conditions, resulting in outstanding vegetative and sanitary conditions. The grapes thrived, producing medium-sized, loose bunches with small berries. Abundant sunny mornings and cool nights during the growing season allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, contributing to wines of exceptional freshness and complexity. The 2010 vintage has been officially rated as Excellent, a testament to its outstanding quality.

This Gran Reserva 890 is a blend of Tempranillo (95%), Mazuelo (2%), and Graciano (3%) sourced from La Rioja Alta’s own vineyards in Briñas, Labastida, Villalba, and Fuenmayor. The hand-harvested grapes were carefully transported to the winery in refrigerated vehicles. After gentle destemming and crushing, the musts underwent an 18-day alcoholic fermentation in tanks. The Tempranillo and Mazuelo grapes were co-fermented in the vineyard, while the Graciano was handled separately. Natural malolactic fermentation took place over four months. Following winter stabilisation, the best lots were selected and aged in barrels for an impressive six years, with ten traditional rackings.

In the glass, La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010 exhibits a captivating medium garnet red color with a subtle iodine tinge on the rim. The scent of this wine exhibits the traditional Rioja aromas such as cherry jam, black plum compote, tobacco leaf, cinnamon, vanilla, pepper, and chocolate powder.On the palate, this wine delights with refined tannins and a gentle freshness that contribute to its elegant and pleasant mouthfeel. Its bouquet is broad, complex, and round, culminating in an elegant finish. With its timeless character, this Gran Reserva 890 promises a long and rewarding aging potential.

The critical acclaim for this wine further attests to its excellence. Wine Advocate awarded it an impressive 97 points, praising its classical style, long aging in barrel, and complex nose of forest floor, truffles, cigar ash, and cedar wood. Renowned wine critic James Suckling also bestowed 97 points, describing its fragrant nose of blackberries, plums, earth, dried flowers, leather, cloves, sweet tobacco, and cigar box. The wine’s full-bodied nature, seamless tannins, fresh acidity, and velvety texture contribute to its exceptional balance and layered complexity, leading to a lingering and beautiful finish.

75 reviews for La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010

  1. Rafael Dabney

    En Premier (Lavinia – Madrid) has a promising nose, silky texture and potential. Darker than 1998. Will be available to buy next year.

  2. Lisa Brown

    Top-class Gran Reserva Rioja with impressive balance of wood, tannins and acidity. Raspberry and strawberry aromas linger well and make it a competitor for many.

  3. Hulda Costa

    Magnificent Rioja with incredible depth, balance, and a hug of strawberry, damson and plum. Firm acid, soft tannins, and a profound finish. Timeless ‘Selección Especial’.

  4. Aisha Kent

    Great potential with big strawberry and sour cherry nose, tangy orange finish. Needs time to mellow.

  5. Felix Abrego

    First bottle from a case of 12. Needs more decanting time to open up. Great potential, 93 points, will try again in a couple of years.

  6. Harry Park

    La Rioja Alta 890 2001 SE is a great wine with a perfect balance, structure, and length. It needs a lot of aeration but definitely worth the price. 93p.

  7. Thomas Moore

    Impressive.

  8. Luis Shannon

    Rioja – perfect with Cohiba Behike. Notes of jam, licorice, wood, soil, tobacco on the nose. Plum, dried berries on the palate. Complex, long finish. Tannins integrated. Needs cellaring.

  9. Carol Warner

    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -, Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2014/12/la-rioja-alta-890-seleccion-especial.html, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -, Sorprende ya de entrada por su profundo color granatoso de capa media-alta, oscuro, tapado. Inusualmente cubierto para un 890, incluso en el momento de su salida al mercado. Límpido, brillante, con tímidos reflejos rojizos. Borde estrecho, anaranjado, con marcada diferencia respecto al menisco. , En nariz rezuma juventud. Es todo potencia y exageración. Viene nervioso y cargado de notas tostadas, tripas de habano, maderas exóticas – perfumadas (cedro, sándalo), ceniza, que empujan sin lograrlo una cantidad enorme de fruta negra madura, con una punta vegetal, casi apimentonada, y un fondo de hojas de laurel y hierbas aromáticas. Apabulla en todos los sentidos pero de tanta intensidad se pierden los detalles., En boca es de tacto sedoso pero concentrado y sápido, especiado, sólido como el granito. Convence: lo tiene todo!! Su acidez es hiriente, vengativa con nuestro paladar, sosteniendo un ensamblaje de fruta y madera, apenas avainillada, en su justa medida. No le falta brío, va sobrado de energía. Fresco, lleno, vibrante, con taninos firmísimos que el tiempo no ha ni comenzado a erosionar. Placer embotellado!!, Primer vino probado de 2001, cambio de siglo, y no podía ser de otra manera que de la mano de un 890 de La Rioja Alta. Lo que encontramos es prometedor y comenzamos a pensar que la cosecha de 2001 no sólo dio memorables medias crianzas y excelentes reservas. Teníamos muchas dudas pero parece que estamos ante una de las grandes añadas. Se verá… La impresión general es de tener en la copa un artefacto bien armado, sólido, con una extraordinaria materia prima pero absolutamente crudo. Aún está por hacerse. Quien busque un gran reserva riojano al uso, civilizado-amable-fácil de beber, con éste se sentirá defraudado. Estamos ante el augurio de algo muy grande que puede llegar si tenemos paciencia y nos hacemos con unas cuantas botellas ahora mismo. Este vino va a desaparecer en poco tiempo. , – – – Wine Info – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -, 95% tempranillo, 3% graciano, 2% mazuelo – 13.5% vol., La tempranillo proviene de los viñedos propios más viejos ubicados en la subzona de la Rioja Alta, principalmente de los municipios de Briñas, Labastida y Villalba. El resto de la uva es originaria de las fincas Melchorón I y II de Briones y Rodezno. Todos los viñedos tienen una edad superior a 40 años., Selección de la uva a pie de viñedo. Transporte en cajas refrigeradas. Realiza la fermentación en depósitos de acero inoxidable a temperatura controlada, no superior a 30 grados. Segunda selección de los vinos para su posterior crianza. Trasegado a barricas de roble americano de 225 litros (20% nuevos, 80% de 4 años) elaboradas de forma artesa por la tonelería de la propia bodega. Es sometido a crianza durante 72 meses con un total de 12 trasiegas manuales en la emblemática nave Vigier. Embotellado directamente de barrica, sin filtrar, en marzo de 2008. Producción limitada a 15.900 botellas de 75 cl., – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

  10. Salvador Peden

    Riojas at Donato Enoteca in Redwood City, CA has an excellent nose and a very good palate, but a short finish.

  11. Martin Stevenson

    Silky-textured, delicious wine with baked black fruit, sauteed mushroom, and ripe cherry notes. Maturing well, could use 4-plus years. Medium-plus finish.

  12. George Damewood

    Best Rioja ever, with classic clay smoke circle surrounding red cherry/blackberry center. Lush dark/red center with tobacco, smoke, licorice and berry melange. Slow drinking, complexity increases. Achieves star status, comparable to Moro in the Ribera. Worth the price.

  13. Donald Mitchell

    Medium-bodied with a perfect blend of cherry, coconut, and chocolate notes. Well-balanced and complex with a long, satisfying finish.

  14. Sandra Pulley

    Beautiful and rustic wine with a barnyard bouquet. Notes of coffee, chocolate, and good acidity. Great tannin and can last another decade.

  15. Rhonda Terry

    Great wine! Perfect with Spanish cheeses and cured meats. Can be enjoyed now or kept for later. No need to decant.

  16. James Freeman

    Palate-pleasing with musty tobacco, sous-bois, mushroom, and leather notes. Creamy texture with black mid-palate, lingering acidic taste. Ready to drink; decanting not needed.

  17. Ralph Ciriaco

    Younger than the 2004 904, but with concentrated fruits and silky tannins. Beautifully supple and will improve with age.

  18. Johnnie Humphries

    Intense aromas of black cherry, vanilla, cedar, cigar, and soil. Full-bodied, complete, and dense with a long life. Bonkers good.

  19. Richard Mckinney

    Clean, deep garnet color. Medium+ intense aroma of oak, vanilla, nuts, sweet cherry, dark berries, and floral undertones. Medium+ body, flavor intensity, and acidity with fine tannins. Long, smooth finish. Absurdly well-balanced, complex, and outstanding quality. Great potential for aging. 93-94p.

  20. Christopher Keene

    Exceptional wine with notes of black cherry, tar, and earthy Spanish clay. Decant for an hour to experience its lush, deep tawny/garnet red tint and fruit. Decades of life ahead.

  21. Donald Allbritton

    The cork smells amazing & complex. Notes of dark cherry, mushrooms, aged oak on the nose & palate. Tastes young for a 2004, with tannins. Can cellar for 10+ years. Excellent balance & complexity.

  22. Richard Wilson

    Ruby color with lighter edges. Plum and floral nose. Dark berry, tobacco, and cedar spice flavors. Soft mouthfeel. Great now and in the future.

  23. Janis Fabian

    La Rioja Alta GR Vertical Tasting – Barn odors, thyme, and coffee breath on the nose. Drying and serious in the mouth. A thoroughbred 890. Sleeping for 25 years.

  24. Rose James

    Intense and lively Rioja with layers of dark fruit and fine tannins. Enjoy now, unsure of potential for aging.

  25. Christine Clark

    Initial leanness with strong oak & acidity transitions to intense raspberry/blueberry perfume mixed with dark earth. High intensity flavor profile, but not heavy juice. Intense underbrush and dark fruit nose. Interesting stuff.

  26. Carolyn Coleman

    “Earthy with nice acid” – Russk Parker’s Matter of Taste at the Moore Bldg.

  27. Melvina Leonard

    Young red with notes of coconut, vanilla, and red berries. Slightly sour taste but not unpleasant. Tannins not fully resolved.

  28. Bessie Marquez

    Review: Complex nose, great acidity, and long finish. Improves in the glass. Better than expected. 95-96p.

  29. Erica Smith

    Dark red with no signs of aging. A complex nose with leather, wood, and cedar. Great acidity and tannin finish on the palate with a long finish. A must-try wine with a promising future.

  30. Curtis Pharmer

    Superb wine with a fantastic nose of red and dark fruit, spices, tobacco, smoke, and leather. Soft on the palate with lovely fruit, great acidity, and a nice tannic backbone, resulting in a great balance. Long-lasting finish. Drink or keep. 94-95+.

  31. Dorothy Connors

    Classic Rioja style with evolved complexity, zingy tannin and acidity. Earthy, gamey leather notes. Lacks weight.

  32. Mildred Rousse

    Perfumed with Burgundy-like nose, but with American oak notes of vanilla, tobacco, and spice. Enjoyed at Hide in London. Keep for full Rioja Gran Reserva experience.

  33. Charles Gilliland

    An aristocratic medium-bodied wine with impeccable feel and great balance. Cherry, strawberry, tobacco, leather, balsamic, cedar notes. Old yet amazingly fresh with calibrated acidity. Tastes like a high-end Italian wine.

  34. Anthony Philpott

    Eminent Especial with chocolate, coffee, amaretto, mint, sweet spices, and rhum notes. Harmoniously balanced and matured finish.

  35. Nathaniel Dugan

    Intensely fruity with herbal and sable notes. The bouquet is rounded off with coca cola, floral and mushroom hints. Fresh and fruity palate with high acidity and structural tannins. Beats the 2007 Gran Reserva.

  36. Brian Watts

    This Rioja gem is medium+ body, young, dark and seductive. It will improve with cellaring, but already good to drink. A clear, precise nose with ripe fruit on the palate. Smooth tannins and good acidity. It improved with air.

  37. Alicia Perez

    Excellent Rioja at Armit, Claridge’s. Seductive with complex flavors of dust, hedgerow, herby and sweet oak. Busy with sustained impressions, but not yet mature. Value for money? Feels like a minimum of £70.

  38. Felicia Drinkard

    Outstanding Rioja with notes of brambles, black pepper, and violets. Excellently balanced with nice easy tannins and good acidity. Will keep well.

  39. Peter Silveira

    Primary fruit and lots of vanilla. Really good but really young (for a La Rioja Alta 890). Suggestion – lay it down for 10 more years before trying again.

  40. Tammie Coffey

    Wine is youthful.

  41. Robin Carpenter

    Drinkable and enjoyable now, but still young. Best Rioja I’ve ever had. Saving remaining 3 for 5+ years to see how it develops.

  42. Richard Laporte

    Unimpressive and overpriced. 904 is a better option at the moment.

  43. Adam Trevino

    Balanced red fruit with vanilla and spices, medium garnet color. Nothing wrong, but not worth the cost. Better on day 2.

  44. Joel Fitzgerald

    Beautiful wine with crisp acidity and freshness. Light on its feet but with plenty of stuffing. Red cherries and cranberries with barnyard complexity. Soft tannins in the background.

  45. Zoe Jones

    Review: Full-bodied with black and red fruits, berries, earthy, and a hint of sweetness. Good potential, but needs more time. Hold.

  46. Charles Medders

    Complex and intense Rioja-style wine with notes of vanilla, coconut, licorice, red berry, sesame, walnut, and mushroom. High acidity, tannin, and alcohol result in a full-bodied taste. Good wine, but not truly worthy according to Jancis Robinson. Drink now or hold, won’t develop much more but will last.

  47. Christine Cadorette

    No changes necessary as there is no existing review to work with.

  48. Curtis Vil

    LRA’s clarity is nice but the palate is acidic. Nose has sophisticated graphite, coffee, mocha, cassis, dust, dill and mint. Palate has cassis, prune, toasted coconut but acid builds with balsamic bite. Not worth $180, better options available.

  49. Carolyn Bower

    La Rioja Alta’s 12-year-old wine presented by Francisco Copas at a Zoom tasting hosted by Caviste, UK was good but overpriced compared to their other wines. Plummy colour with a mature, earthy nose and a full palate of forest fruits, veggie, leathery, and classy notes.

  50. Robert Johanson

    Impressive depth, great acidity, mellow tannins. Wonderfully balanced and smooth with remarkable length. Sweet fruit, tobacco, cedar wood, vanilla, spices. Drink or keep. 93-95.

  51. Richard Bush

    Palate is languid. Walnut/corked smell at start, eases gently. Has many years ahead.

  52. Robert Graves

    Memorable Tempranillo wine with earthy notes of tart raspberry, mineral, and mushrooms. Long finish.

  53. Nicolas Lee

    Enjoyed with Singers. Fabulous!

  54. Mary Bishop

    Pleasant long floral finish…truly enjoyable.

  55. Larry Nelson

    Silky and balanced with fleshy dark fruit and vanilla hints. Good length finish. Enjoy now.

  56. Patricia Thomas

    Decant for at least 3 hours, or even better, 5 hours. Slow to start, but improves with exposure.

  57. Mary Nichols

    Stunning wine with dried cherry, cigar and American oak notes. Allow some time for optimal enjoyment.

  58. Luella Dooley

    Delicious bottle with a perfect blend of red fruits, rioja warmth, and integrated tannin. Silky smooth yet strong. Improves with age.

  59. Joseph Young

    Adore it, not just like!

  60. Andrew Carman

    Review: The Smoked Beef at Chans (Cedar, Singapore) is a true delight to drink. It has a bright and juicy palate with velvety tannins. The nose is a lovely melange of sweet red cherries, dried flowers, and fragrant baking spices. Give it 4-5 years to become absolutely lovely.

  61. Tony Tabor

    Balanced earthy notes of straw and cedar shavings with dry cherry notes. Aired for two hours. Drink by 2027.

  62. Alvina Guyer

    Gran Reserva 890 ‘Seleccion Especial’ – Silky, classic, and seductive. Youthful fruit with mature Rioja notes. Expensive, but 904 is better value.

  63. Larry Clay

    Vanilla, toffee, cocoa, and red fruits coat the mouth in this amazing Rioja wine. Love it.

  64. James Grant

    Young, bold, dark fruits with mineral undertones and a long finish. Tannins still prominent. A treat, but not an everyday option due to price.

  65. Curtis Day

    Thin and simple.

  66. Rigoberto Rowe

    PNP Fonda Barcelona is a significant improvement from the 2011 904. More depth, concentration, and complexity. A second bottle was consumed on Seabourn, this time with a 2-hour decant.

  67. Robert Elder

    Brief and underwhelming.

  68. Charlotte Tebo

    Unimpressed. Thin on the palate and not interesting. Needs to try again.

  69. Walter Pascua

    Fresh and balanced, with creamy notes of red fruit and subtle hints of spice. The 2010 vintage lacks typical aged characteristics, but is finely crafted with a smooth and delicate texture. The Rioja region’s iconic 890 wine is a delightful and approachable choice for any wine enthusiast.

  70. Harold Long

    Needs more time to achieve balance. Fruity with oak, berry and leather aroma. Red cherry dominates on the palate with mild tannins and surprising acidity. Drinkable in 4-6 years.

  71. Branden Hartmann

    Decant for 3 hours before serving to truly appreciate its flavor, contrary to other reviews. Not a thin wine.

  72. Kevin Little

    “Delightful red fruit leather. No need to hurry for the next bottle.”

  73. Ruth Reed

    Well made but needs 5-10 more years. Fruit forward with great acidity. Worth $100, not $200.

  74. Eric Rabe

    93 at first sip, but a solid 94 after. Decant for more than an hour to mellow out woody notes. Enjoyed the bright fruit as the dinner progressed.

  75. Danny Leblanc

    Wine improves after 2-3 hours in decanter. Medium+ body with orange peels, tobacco, spice, oolong tea leaf, cherry, and plum notes. Thin body. #6880/57036.

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Critical Acclaim

WA 97
Wine Advocate
They were eager to show me their 2010 Gran Reserva 890, their flagship wine from one of the most heralded vintages of recent times, the next vintage of this wine since 2005. It's 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo that fermented destemmed and crushed with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats for 18 days, the Tempranillo and Mazuelo together and the Graciano separately. After letting the wine settle for the winter, they selected the lots that would age for six years in used American oak barrels with 10 manual rackings. The wine epitomizes the classical style of Rioja Alta with long aging in barrel, developed and tertiary wines with a silky palate and a complex and decadent nose of forest floor, truffles, cigar ash and cedar wood. They need a very special selection of vineyards at higher altitude that take longer to ripen, and they don't do it fully every year.
JS 97
James Suckling
A fragrant nose of blackberries, plums, earth, dried flowers, leather, cloves, sweet tobacco and cigar box. Full-bodied with seamless tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and layered with great tension. Elegant, with a velvety texture and a long finish. Such length and beauty now with so much age.

What does La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010 taste like?


Light
Bold
Smooth
Tannic
Dry
Sweet
Soft
Acidic
Earthy Flavors of the wine

leather, earthy, mushroom

Red Fruit flavors of the wine

cherry, raspberry, red fruit

Oaky Flavors of the wine

oak, tobacco, vanilla

apple, melon, apricot

Black Fruit Flavors of the wine

blackberry, plum, dark fruit

Aromas and Flavors of Spices in the wine

pepper, licorice, cinnamon

Citrus notes found in the wine

citrus, lemon, grapefruit

cheese, cream, oil

Vegetal notes found in the wine

tomato, grass, asparagus

raisin, fig, prune

tropical, tamarind, guava

Floral aromas found in the wine

violet, lavender, potpourri

Food Pairing with La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010

Our wine experts think this Red Wine La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010 wine would be a match made in heaven with these dishes. Bon appétit!
La Rioja Alta Winery
La Rioja Alta S.A. winery entrance
Tasting Room at La Rioja Alta Winery
Wine Cellar at La Rioja Alta Winery
La Rioja Alta winery, established in 1890 by a collaboration of five families from Rioja and Basque regions, is renowned as one of the leading estates in the Rioja area. Its specialty lies in crafting classically-styled, flavorful Gran Reserva red wines that possess the ability to gracefully mature over several decades. The winery got its name from the Rioja Alta subregion, where it primarily conducts its operations. La Rioja Alta has around 1000 acres of vineyards in Rioja. They mostly grow Tempranillo grapes, but they also cultivate several other varieties such as Graciano, Garnacha, and Mazuelo. The original winery of La Rioja Alta is situated in Haro, featuring a cooperage where American oak barrels are meticulously crafted. Additionally, a second facility was established in...check our brand La Rioja Alta
Tempranillo Varietal
Tempranillo, one of the most renowned red grape varietals, has captivated wine enthusiasts around the world with its exceptional flavors and versatility. Originating from Spain, this grape has established its dominance in numerous wine regions, thanks to its adaptability and ability to express diverse terroirs. Tempranillo flourishes in several regions across the globe, but its heart lies in its homeland, Spain. The country's diverse climatic conditions and soil profiles provide the ideal foundation for this grape to thrive. In the renowned regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo revels in a continental climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cold winters. The clay and limestone-rich soils in these areas provide excellent drainage and contribute to the grape's balanced...Please check Tempranillo for more information

Winemaker of La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010

Julio Saenz Winemaker at La Rioja Alta

Julio Sáenz

Julio Saenz, an accomplished winemaker, has become a prominent figure at the renowned La Rioja Alta winery in Spain. With his exceptional talent and expertise, Saenz has played a pivotal role in the winery's success. Known for his unwavering dedication to crafting exceptional wines, he combines traditional winemaking techniques with modern innovation to produce remarkable vintages. Saenz's meticulous attention to detail and deep understanding of the region's terroir result in wines that beautifully express the unique characteristics of La Rioja. His skillful blending of traditional grape varieties showcases his ability to create harmonious and age-worthy wines that have garnered widespread acclaim. Under Saenz's guidance, La Rioja Alta continues to flourish as a leading winery in... More Products
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Rioja Alta Wine Region
 
The Rioja Alta region, nestled in the heart of northern Spain, stands as a testament to the rich tapestry of wine history and culture. As one of the three sub-regions within the larger Rioja wine region, alongside Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, Rioja Alta is celebrated for its premium wines, distinguished by their complexity and aging potential. This article delves into the history, location, soil profile, climatic conditions, grape varieties, and the distinctive taste of wines from this illustrious wine region.

History of the Region

The history of winemaking in Rioja Alta dates back to the Roman times, but it was during the Middle Ages that the region began to gain prominence, thanks to the monasteries and their monks who... ...Check Region for more information

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