La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reserva DOCa 2019
(Rioja, Spain) - [JS 92] [JG 92] [TA 92]

About the Winery:
Founded in 1890, La Rioja Alta is one of the most experienced and universally respected wineries in Rioja. Viña Alberdi is La Rioja Alta's juiciest, most approachable Rioja to drink on the younger side. That said, it still is one of the standard bearers of great quality, affordable, traditional Rioja, aged for two full years in barrels produced on site by the company's own coopers.

Vintage Notes:
Rated Excellent, the weather conditions during the growing cycle were optimal, producing very healthy grapes in the vineyards. The bunches, loose and well aerated, ripened exceptionally well. This allowed us to wait for the optimum time to harvest each of the plots selected for this particular wine. As a result, the wines stand out for their balance, attractive freshness and round, silky tannins, particularly suitable for ageing and with a decidedly Atlantic character, typical of this part of Rioja.

Notes from the Winemaker:
Intense, medium-high depth, ruby-red; clean and bright. The nose particularly stands for its red fruit (raspberries, wild strawberries and red plums), which give way to notes of vanilla, nutmeg, caramel and cedar from barrel aging. Flavor-packed, balanced and very fresh, with smooth, friendly tannins. Harmonious, well-balanced finish, with a pleasant final freshness that invites you to continue enjoying this new vintage.

Pairing:
Vina Alberdi stands out for its food-pairing versatility. It is the ideal companion to appetizers, snacks and barbecues, perfect with rice, pasta and creams, and great with lightly-grilled meat and fish.

Vineyard, Grapes and Aging:
100% Tempranillo from the Mayorita, Rebollar and Bardal vineyards, as well as selected plots in El Palo, Rodezno and Alto del Rey, Labastida. These vineyards are located at an altitude of 500-600 metres (1,600-2,000 ft) above sea level, planted in chalky-clay soils more than 40 years ago.

Ratings & Reviews

92 Points - John Gilman:
"The 2019 Rioja “Viña Alberdi” Reserva from La Rioja Alta is made entirely from tempranillo, with the vines at least forty years of age. The wine is aged entirely in small American oak barrels for two years, with the first year in new wood and the second in “three wine” barrels. The wine is excellent on both the nose and palate, with the bouquet offering up a complex blend of red and black raspberries, woodsmoke, a touch of spiced meats, chalky soil tones, cloves, nutmeg, a touch of nutskin and a nice mix of smoky and toasted coconutty oak scents. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with superb depth of fruit, lovely soil inflection and grip, moderate, buried tannins and fine balance on the long, complex and classy finish. This is already very tasty, but it has plenty of well-integrated tannins still on the finish and tucking it away in the cellar for four or five years will result in a more velvety and complex wine. Fine juice."

92 Points - Tim Atkin, MW:
Julio Sáenz uses grapes from Haro, Labastida and Rodezno to produce this well-priced Tempranillo. Couched in the bodega's well-established traditional style, with ageing in new and then four-year-old American oak, this has some subtle reduction, sweet patisserie spices of vanilla and coconut, racy acidity, succulent summer berry fruit and the faintest of balsamic twists. 2024-29


92 Points - James Suckling:
"Attractive aromas of sweet spices, smoke and seaweed. Some roasted nuts. Hints of Iberico ham. Medium-bodied with a nice rounded character to the tannins and juicy fruit. Pure tempranillo. Drink now." (October 2023)

91 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2019 Reserva Viña Alberdi is 100% Tempranillo, sourced from Labastida, Rioja Alavesa and aged for two years in American oak barrels. Garnet in color, the bouquet features vanilla and ripe plum notes along with hints of balsamic and caramel. Dry and juicy on the palate, the polished tannins and silky flow lead to a fairly nimble finish—a delicate Rioja red." – Joaquin Hidalgo (Apr 2024)

91 Points, Rank #9 Top 10 Best Values of 2024 - Wine Spectator:
"Hints of toast, smoke and spices lace flavors of soft cherry and plum fruit, mandarin orange peel and dried flowers and herbs in this well-knit, medium-bodied red, framed by lightly chewy tannins. Drink now through 2029." - AN (Jun 2024)