La Rioja Alta, Gran Reserva 890 Historical Set (1995, 1998 & 2001)

Grape

Tempranillo

Tasting Note

Vintage 1995
12.7% ABV
Bright red with an amber rim. A heady, wildly complex bouquet evokes red fruit preserves, potpourri, vanilla, cigar box and pipe tobacco, with slow-building vanilla and woodsmoke qualities. Sappy and seamless on the palate, showing sweet red berry, cherry and rose pastille flavours and a touch of mocha. Clings with outstanding tenacity on the finish, which shows sexy floral and spice notes and no rough edges.

Vintage 1998 
13.5% ABV
The Gran Reserva 890 is the longest-aged wine in the excellent La Rioja Alta stable, with an impressive 6 years of aging in barrel followed by extensive aging in bottle. The result is a wine that is dark fruited, savory and beginning to show tertiary notes, with an irresistible elegance and sense of balance. As far as grapes are concerned, there is 95% Tempranillo from the Rioja Alta village of Briñas (neighboring Haro), and a tiny portion of older vine Graciano and Mazuelo from Rodezno. This is classic Rioja for drinking now or aging another decade or longer.

Vintage 2001
13%
The Gran Reserva 890 is the longest-aged wine in the excellent La Rioja Alta stable, with an impressive 6 years of aging in barrel followed by extensive aging in bottle. The result is a wine that is dark fruited, savory and beginning to show tertiary notes, with an irresistible elegance and sense of balance. As far as grapes are concerned, there is 95% Tempranillo from the Rioja Alta village of Briñas (neighboring Haro), and a tiny portion of older vine Graciano and Mazuelo from Rodezno. This is classic Rioja for drinking now or aging another decade or longer.

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