La Rioja Alta 890 Gran Reserva 1998

Wine: La Rioja Alta 890 Gran Reserva 1998

Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and Mazuelo.
ABV: 13.5%
Viticulture

The Tempranillo is sourced from the estate's oldest vineyards in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, primarily within the municipalities of Briñas, Labastida, and Villalba. The remaining grapes originate from the Melchorón I and II estates in Briones and Rodezno.
Winemaking

Fermentation in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures (not exceeding 30°C). The wine spent 8 months in seasoned oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle. It was then transferred to 225-liter American oak barrels handcrafted in the winery’s own cooperage. The wine underwent a 72-month aging period with 12 manual rackings in the emblematic Vigier cellar. Bottled directly from the barrel, without filtration, in September 2006. Limited production of 24,995 bottles (75 cl).

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: A bright and opaque garnet-cherry of medium-high depth. Luminous and vivid with reddish highlights. It features a narrow orange rim that stands in sharp contrast to the core.

 

Nose: Currently withdrawn and sullen, showing a significant lack of expression. It reveals little beyond faint wild and balsamic hints (bay leaf, Spanish broom) over a backdrop of smoke, ash, and toasted notes; one must use considerable imagination to find a trace of vanilla. It remains static, seemingly anchored in a "dumb phase" of its evolution.

 

Palate: On the palate, the wine is concentrated and unyielding, driven by a bracing acidity and firm, prominent tannins. Spicy, full-bodied, and fresh, it possesses a tyrannical structure and colossal volume. It is challenging to assess its true magnitude at this stage, as the wine is but a shadow of its future self. The sensations of vigor and immense cellaring potential are overwhelming. This first encounter with the final 890 of the 20th century promises an extraordinary legacy. The overall impression is of a raw, primordial red that will only expand over the coming decades. It possesses every attribute required to become one of Rioja’s all-time greats, but reaching its zenith will require at least 25 to 30 years of patience.

 

Personal Score: 90
Tasting Group Score: 87