Viña Arana 1973 Reserva

Wine: Viña Arana 1973 Reserva
Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano, and Viura
ABV: 11.5%
Viticulture

A portion of the Tempranillo is sourced from the estate's oldest vineyards in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, primarily within the municipalities of Ollauri, Rodezno, and Cenicero. The Mazuelo and Graciano components come from the Melchorón I and II estates in Briones and Rodezno. A small percentage of the blend was purchased from local growers following a rigorous selection of the finest plots, contingent upon reaching sufficient sugar levels to yield 12% potential alcohol. 

Winemaking

 Meticulous grape selection upon arrival at the winery. The wine spent 8 to 10 months in the winery’s foundational centennial oak vats (grey wood) to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It was then aged for 36 months in 225-liter American oak barrels, undergoing a total of six manual rackings (trasiegas) to remove sediment and allow for gentle aeration. Finally, it was aged in the bottle for a minimum of 24 months prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes:
 

Appearance: Dark, medium-bodied brownish-ruby. It shows significant turbidity and an unusual amount of sediment at the base of the bottle. Dull and matte in finish, with subtle orange highlights and an expansive, fully tawny (tile-red) rim that contrasts sharply with the core.

 

Nose: Initially reserved and muted, requiring aeration, though free of any reduction or off-odors. It soon unfurls with a candied, mature profile in the quintessential "La Rioja Alta" style: extremely classic. Notes of wine-soaked oak, sweet spices, vanilla, aged leather, and English tobacco are complemented by a persistent "barnyard" (cuadra) hint. While it doesn't expand further, it leaves the impression of a structurally sound and settled wine, very much in line with the "autumnal" reds of the 1973 vintage. After two hours, nuances of concentrated red fruit emerge, alongside smoked pepper, orange zest, and fine earthy notes of leaf litter and shaded forest floor.

 

Palate: Full-bodied and slightly off-dry (abocado) on the entry; savory, with a touch of sweetness that balances its vibrant acidity. It is accompanied by a compelling array of reduced fruit—both fresh and candied—and a spice cabinet of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The tannins remain remarkably present. While it may not reach the heights of the best Viña Ardanza vintages and sits a tier below the Gran Reserva 904, it is an immensely pleasurable wine to drink.

 

Personal Score: 90
Tasting Group Score: 92