After the success of the previous vintage, we are delighted to offer a brilliant Gran Reserva red, from one the most famous producers in Rioja, La Rioja Alta. The newly released Viña Arana comes from the 2016 vintage, a year that is described by Wine Advocate ‘as the best vintage since 2010 (and even since 2004)’ in Rioja.
The Viña Arana was introduced in 1974 as a Crianza. Thanks to the impressive quality that both the vineyards and wines have shown, it blossomed into a Gran Reserva in 2012.
Grapes from high-altitude Tempranillo and Graciano vineyards are vinified and aged separately for three years in barrel, then blended and aged for another three years in bottle before release. The resulting Viña Arana Gran Reserva 2016 has ‘subtlety and energy’ (James Suckling) and shows notes of black cherry, vanilla tobacco, lilac and forest floor with tannins that ‘very elegantly integrate’, ‘tons of freshness’ (because of the cooler vintage) (Jancisrobinson.com) and a super long finish. The vivid acidity provides a lovely contrast to the rich and dark flavour profile. While delicious and moreish now, this wine could easily last and develop another decade in bottle!
La Rioja Alta was established in 1890 by five Rioja family’s that are still involved as shareholders five generations later. The winery has continuously displayed immense attention to detail while producing their wines – from their in-house coopery which makes barrels to specifically suit there needs, to racking all their barrels by candle light during the ageing process.
Receiving praise from Neal Martin for producing ‘some of the finest Riojas that can grace your cellar’ and from Decanter for helping ‘define the standards of classic Rioja,’ La Rioja Alta has received a reputation that conveys their winemaking prowess. The Viña Arana offers a great opportunity to experience Riojas specialty, where bodegas mature wines for you until they are in their prime drinking window, and at a very fair price point – given this high quality wine is already nine years old.
Tasting Notes:
La Rioja Alta Viña Arana Gran Reserva 2016
Beautiful transparency here with fresh flowers, green tobacco, pine needles, crushed stones and sandalwood. Dark fruits in the center. Full-bodied with a wonderful balance of fruit and fine tannins as well as mineral, fresh bark and delicate purple fruit. Subtlety with energy. Youthful now and drinkable, but even better in 2026.’ – James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, 95/100
‘Mature notes of coffee and black chocolate layer over the very savoury dark fruit; yet there is also tons of freshness, and the tannins are very elegantly integrated. The perfumed finish goes on forever.’ – Florencia Gomez, JancisRobinson.com, 17,5+/20
‘The 2016 Viña Arana Gran Reserva is an elegant blend of Tempranillo with 5% Graciano matured in used American oak barrels for three years. During this time, the wine was manually racked from barrel to barrel, with the help of a candle, six times. It’s ripe at 14.5% alcohol, with pungent notes of forest floor and truffles, dark spices and an earthy touch. It has a powerful palate, with very good freshness and acidity, reflecting the cooler year. It has some tannins that would welcome food. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2021.’ – Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, 93/100
