100pts & 'Podium Award' Penin Guide to Spanish Wine

The tasting panel of the renowned Spanish wine publication led by Carlos González, has revealed the identity of the four wines, three reds and one white, that have achieved "perfection in each of their styles, territoriality and local identity and the stylistic identification of each of the wineries represented." The 2010 Gran Reserva 890 is the only wine from the DOCa Rioja that has achieved this top score in the soon-to-be-released edition of this guide, which lists 9700 Spanish wines that have been tasted and scored.

According to its Director, the Peñín Guide considers that the 2010 vintage Gran Reserva 890 "represents the greatness of the great Rioja classics in a superb vintage, with a background freshness that will allow it to grow with elegance and complexity" and it is grateful for the "work and determination of houses such as La Rioja Alta, S.A. to keep this type of wine alive and return to Rioja Gran Reserva wines the prominence they deserve."

98pts James Suckling

The nose shows incense, subtle dark fruit and a hint of eucalyptus. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with silky, rounded tannins and a penetrating, succulent profile. Linear, with bright acidity and tension.

97pts 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.

95pts Wine Spectator

Aging gracefully, this red is traditional in the best sense of the word, integrating notes of tobacco and loamy earth with firm, sculpted tannins. Shows an expressive core of plum sauce, dried raspberry, red licorice and espresso flavors. The interplay on display is enticing and deft through the long, plush finish.

Winemaker Notes

The 2010 Gran Reserva 890 stands out for its medium garnet red color, with an incipient iodine tinge on the rim of the glass. The nose reveals the characteristic notes of Rioja classicism: cherry jam, black plum compote, tobacco leaf, cinnamon, vanilla, pepper and chocolate powder. The refinement of its tannins and its gentle freshness lend this wine an elegant and pleasant mouthfeel. Classic Rioja bouquet, broad, complex, round and with an elegant finish. This wine has a long life ahead of it.

Blend: 95% Tempranillo, 2% Mazuelo, 3% Graciano