Wine: Viña Albina 1981 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Riojanas (Cenicero, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 2% Graciano, 3% Viura and other local white varietals
ABV: 12%
Winery: Bodegas Riojanas (Cenicero, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 2% Graciano, 3% Viura and other local white varietals
ABV: 12%
Winemaking:
Initial fermentation of each varietal separately for 12 months in large, original founding-era oak vats (20,000-liter capacity) without temperature control. Following malolactic fermentation, the wine stabilized in the same vats before being racked for aging. It matured for 36 to 42 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels, with manual barrel-to-barrel rackings every 8 months. After blending, the wine underwent a final stabilization in tanks for 6 to 12 months before bottling. Aged for a minimum of 3 years in the winery’s underground cellars before release.
Initial fermentation of each varietal separately for 12 months in large, original founding-era oak vats (20,000-liter capacity) without temperature control. Following malolactic fermentation, the wine stabilized in the same vats before being racked for aging. It matured for 36 to 42 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels, with manual barrel-to-barrel rackings every 8 months. After blending, the wine underwent a final stabilization in tanks for 6 to 12 months before bottling. Aged for a minimum of 3 years in the winery’s underground cellars before release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Ruby-red with medium depth; limpid, translucent, and brilliant.
Displays vibrant pomegranate reflections. Broad orange rim, barely
distinguishable from the meniscus.
Nose:
Soft and subtle, yet balanced and well-defined. It is a perfumed wine
that gains intensity gradually, revealing a wide range of tertiary
notes: withered petals, dehydrated mushrooms, and earthy undertones,
with a backdrop of cigar tobacco adding a vegetal nuance. Extremely
classic in profile. It develops faint hints of stable (pesebre),
ripe red fruits, vanilla, and preserves, joined by notes of plant
fibers, esparto, toast, and tea leaves (Sencha). Full of personality.
Palate:
Delicate, light, and caressing. It is remarkably fresh, filled with
spicy red fruit seamlessly coupled with a woody imprint that rounds out
the ensemble. Savory and integrated, it remains vibrant thanks to a
backbone of energetic acidity and high-quality bitter notes.
Commentary:
This Gran Reserva sits slightly above the Reserva from the same vintage, though both share the unmistakable house DNA. Bodegas Riojanas produces some of the most age-worthy wines in the region, offering a consistent sense of structural solidity. There is no need to fear leaving these bottles forgotten in the cellar for a very long time.
This Gran Reserva sits slightly above the Reserva from the same vintage, though both share the unmistakable house DNA. Bodegas Riojanas produces some of the most age-worthy wines in the region, offering a consistent sense of structural solidity. There is no need to fear leaving these bottles forgotten in the cellar for a very long time.
Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
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