This is surprisingly fresh. Drinking brilliantly. Nose - cranberry, vanilla, raspberry, cinnamon, toast.....Beautiful light colour with a brick red rim. In the mouth beautifully fresh fruit. All the nose plus some plum, leather, beautifully soft tannins. Very smooth and long. Left with the fruit in the mouth. Easy to drink the whole bottle, and at the price a great QPR. Yum.
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Leather, smoke, dark fruit on the nose. Light body, with notes of pepper, dark berries on the palate. Finishes dry and delicious, went perfect with our jambalaya!
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Bright ruby colored, medium full bodied, bright expressive rich round flavorful red fruit flavors with notes of balsamic, tobacco leaf and hints of vanilla and cocoa with moderate, smooth tannins on the lingering finish.
Much better than expected. Still going strong. Deep. Leather. Oak. Dark, stewed fruit. Complex. Medium and integrated tannins. Balanced acidity with some smoke. Enjoyed with a sweet and sour brisket.
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Disappointing. Too fruit forward (with a lot of berry) and too much oak. It may bit a little young and I gave this 6 hours of air in the decanter. The oakyness blew off, but still a disappointment. Overpriced at $32. I am a massive fan of La Rioja Alta, but the 2016 or 2018 (latest vintage) of their entry wine “Viña Alberdi” is better than this and is $10 less per bottle!
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Also wonderfully complex on the nose. With lovely cherry and then the savory walnut note. After '12 this became a grand reserve but its exactly the same wine. 5% Graciano for acidity and body. 3 years in barrel and 6 months in bottle thereafter. Touch of cigar box and leather and high acidity. High acidity on the palate. I think either have drunk it earlier or hold.
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Elegant and classic Rioja! Decanted 45 minutes. Complex aromas of vanilla, soy, red cherries, cigars, and toasty oak. Rich yet savory palate of dried raspberries, creamy oak, and sweet cherries. Excellent finish with well integrated tannins. Seems to be near peak, yet has structure for additional aging.
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Drinking beautifully now. Perfect balance of fruit (plums, brambles) and tertiary, savoury flavours. Tremendous Rioja. Kicking myself I only bought one bottle at £16.
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Color moving towards brick. Baking spice on nose, maybe a little meaty. Great acid and tannins. I’m Stewed fruit. Fruit might be starting to fade. Drinking nicely now. No need to wait. Enjoyed with ribeye.
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D+0h: a tiny, tiny, tiny bit of deposit in the filter, smells of blackberry D+4,5h: purple red, on the rim cherry red, smells of leather, smoke, blackberry and plums, medium body, smooth in the mouth, has a certain residual sugar, so not completely dry, in the mouth blackberry, plums and leather, in the aftertaste blackberry, plums, smoke and acidity, very good length (30 + sec), very elegant and classy Rioja, you get a lot of wine for your money. Will definitely buy again.
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2011 La Rioja Alta Viña Arana Reserva was a classic expression of Rioja Alta. The developing Rioja Alta Reserva was clear and medium ruby in colour with a light amber rim. There were expressive notes of raspberries, dried red cherries and wet earth, followed by American oak artifacts of butterscotch and dill herbs.
The mouthfeel was dry and medium-bodied with medium-high level of lively acidity and medium level of silky tannin. Flavours of forest berries, mushroom and chocolate persisted in a rather long savoury finish. The alcohol was at 13.5%.
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Poured from bottle and got a lot of acid. Fruit diminishing and turning to more stewed/dried. Benefited a lot from decanting, which settled down the acid. Toasty, medium length. Definitely showing age. Great pairing with lamb chops in a Greek marinade.
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Medium garnet, with pronounced aromas of violets, roast strawberry, raspberry, red & black cherry, blueberry, black plum Vanilla, clove, smoke, anise Prune, leather, tobacco, earth, balsamic, forest floor Pronounced flavours as aromas with medium + acidity, soft, ripe, medium tannin, medium alcohol, medium + body and a long satisfying finish. Truly astounding value for (£20) money!
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Good quality Rioja, delivered well as expected for type. Raspberry oak juice with very soft tannins - tannins soft rather than smooth - tasty and very drinkable. There's some depth and complexity, balsamic notes, and nothing harsh or out of place.
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2011 La Rioja Alta S. A. Viña Arana Reserva was complex, mature and well-balanced. The Tempranillo-dominant Rioja was clear and medium ruby in colour with an amber rim. There was no sediment despite its age. The nose showed great interplay of red fruits, American oak spices and tertiary bouquet, with raspberries and red cherries up front, followed by vanilla, dill, mint and a touch of coconut, as well as Balsamic, leather and preserved orange zest. The mouthfeel was dry and medium-bodied, balanced with medium-high level of acidity and medium level of silky fine tannin. Flavours of red berries, herbs, earth and mushroom filled the satisfying long finish. The blend was composed of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo (also known as Carignan in France), aged in used American oak for three years. Reserva and Gran Reserva from Rioja are widely available on the market, and are often ready to consume when released, while being capable to develop in-bottle over a decade or more.
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Not as impressive as many of the other La Rioja Alta wines in the marketplace, but still a decent, everyday drinking wine. Served with grilled NY strip. Initial flavors of plums, wood, tobacco, modest acidity, length and finish. Not sure if the wine is in a somewhat closed stage and just needs some time. Will try again in a year or so.
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The color of this wine is insanely intriguing. Cherry red with an orange and brown nuance. At first a very tight nose. But pouring this wine in a decanter for 3-4 hours in a chilled environment literally changes the profile of this wine substantially. Red currant, cherries, tobacco, bitter coffee beans, chocolate and a little orange peel. The taste is huge and spicy yet with elegance and finess. A fruity freshness with great structure followed by razor sharp acidity with deep minerality. Huge complexity!!!
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Advanced nose of mushrooms, forest floor, coconut and milk chocolate. Flavourful and assertive palate; complex and complete; excellent balance; long, dynamic finish. 4.5/5
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Had at the La Rioja Alta winery in Haro, Spain. Purple, medium-translucent body with shades of brown. Nose has candied plum, brown sugar, leather. Palate has walnut, strawberry, leather. Dry, short finish. Soft tannins. Very smooth.
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Holy oak!! Massive oak and vanilla on the nose and throughout the palate. Was balanced at times but also had some heat, which was surprising as it’s listed at 13.5% OH. I enjoyed it @ £26!
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La Rioja Alta (La Rioja Alta, Haro, Rioja): 95% Tempranillo and 5%Mazuelo. Ruby to slight garnet. Lovely nose of fading red fruit and worn leather. Elegant, comforting typicity. At least ***1/2
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Spanish Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 95% Tempranillo & 5% Mazuelo "from the El Palo & Las Monjas Vyds in Rodezno. Estate-owned vyds planted on loamy soils in 1973. Alcoholic fermentation took place in tanks for 15 days at a controlled temperature below 82 °F. After careful racking, malolactic fermentation took place naturally over 94 days. In March 2012, selected wines were transferred to AM oak barrels (made in-house) with an ave age of 4.5 years. During the 3 yrs the wine was aged, it was racked every 6 mos using traditional barrel-to-barrel methods. It was bottled in July 2015."
N: ™Dill & barnyd with hints of unsmoked tobacco [TY, budosyu]
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which does QUITE resolve by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the few inoffensive tannins. For now & through '22, I'm guessing. My EXC-. 93 pts ea Guía Peñín & Suckling, and 91 WA. [This vendor's $23.95 is $2 < the lowest on wine-searcher.]
™My ability to smell being impinged by sinus surgery
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By the glass at Beast, London. Freshly opened bottle. Young and full still, dark fruited, lots of American oak on the nose , coconut touches, spice and quite a bit of succulent dark fruit. A touch too much at this stage and really lacks complexity. 88
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4/1/2024 - Ardross Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sumptuous
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3/17/2024 - JCH2019 wrote: 90 Points
This is surprisingly fresh. Drinking brilliantly. Nose - cranberry, vanilla, raspberry, cinnamon, toast.....Beautiful light colour with a brick red rim. In the mouth beautifully fresh fruit. All the nose plus some plum, leather, beautifully soft tannins. Very smooth and long. Left with the fruit in the mouth. Easy to drink the whole bottle, and at the price a great QPR. Yum.
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12/10/2023 - bkomisar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Leather, smoke, dark fruit on the nose. Light body, with notes of pepper, dark berries on the palate. Finishes dry and delicious, went perfect with our jambalaya!
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10/31/2023 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Bright ruby colored, medium full bodied, bright expressive rich round flavorful red fruit flavors with notes of balsamic, tobacco leaf and hints of vanilla and cocoa with moderate, smooth tannins on the lingering finish.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2023/10/la-rioja-alta-vina-arana-rioja-reserva.html
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9/17/2023 - jepstein4031 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better than expected. Still going strong. Deep. Leather. Oak. Dark, stewed fruit. Complex. Medium and integrated tannins. Balanced acidity with some smoke. Enjoyed with a sweet and sour brisket.
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4/25/2023 - Oliverl1 wrote: 87 Points
Disappointing. Too fruit forward (with a lot of berry) and too much oak. It may bit a little young and I gave this 6 hours of air in the decanter. The oakyness blew off, but still a disappointment. Overpriced at $32. I am a massive fan of La Rioja Alta, but the 2016 or 2018 (latest vintage) of their entry wine “Viña Alberdi” is better than this and is $10 less per bottle!
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9/21/2022 - levicn wrote: 89 Points
中石榴红色,闻香有明显的奶油味,坚果的氧化气息,山楂一类红果香气,入口酸度中高,单宁细腻,酒液咸,奶味十足,红果混合着巧克力的香气,余味也是一直延续的椰奶香气。一款陈年的酒,氧化风格,美桶特征明显,很典型的产区风格,中规中矩,稍微缺少了一些变化。
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8/9/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Also wonderfully complex on the nose. With lovely cherry and then the savory walnut note. After '12 this became a grand reserve but its exactly the same wine. 5% Graciano for acidity and body. 3 years in barrel and 6 months in bottle thereafter. Touch of cigar box and leather and high acidity. High acidity on the palate. I think either have drunk it earlier or hold.
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7/20/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
On day two salty and mineral on the nose and palate.
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7/19/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Has that wonderful nut character to it but clean as well without funk. And lively on the palate as well. So darn good.
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3/11/2022 - BHRH Likes this wine: 91 Points
Elegant and classic Rioja! Decanted 45 minutes. Complex aromas of vanilla, soy, red cherries, cigars, and toasty oak. Rich yet savory palate of dried raspberries, creamy oak, and sweet cherries. Excellent finish with well integrated tannins. Seems to be near peak, yet has structure for additional aging.
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1/28/2022 - guy12 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Think this will still improve, not the depth of flavour of the older vintages
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9/14/2021 - Leones de Lisboa Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Perfect balance of fruit (plums, brambles) and tertiary, savoury flavours. Tremendous Rioja. Kicking myself I only bought one bottle at £16.
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8/21/2021 - jepstein4031 wrote: 90 Points
Color moving towards brick. Baking spice on nose, maybe a little meaty. Great acid and tannins. I’m Stewed fruit. Fruit might be starting to fade. Drinking nicely now. No need to wait. Enjoyed with ribeye.
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1/9/2021 - Butzemann Likes this wine: 91 Points
D+0h: a tiny, tiny, tiny bit of deposit in the filter, smells of blackberry D+4,5h: purple red, on the rim cherry red, smells of leather, smoke, blackberry and plums, medium body, smooth in the mouth, has a certain residual sugar, so not completely dry, in the mouth blackberry, plums and leather, in the aftertaste blackberry, plums, smoke and acidity, very good length (30 + sec), very elegant and classy Rioja, you get a lot of wine for your money. Will definitely buy again.
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12/13/2020 - apple1813 Likes this wine: 91 Points
2011 La Rioja Alta Viña Arana Reserva was a classic expression of Rioja Alta. The developing Rioja Alta Reserva was clear and medium ruby in colour with a light amber rim. There were expressive notes of raspberries, dried red cherries and wet earth, followed by American oak artifacts of butterscotch and dill herbs.
The mouthfeel was dry and medium-bodied with medium-high level of lively acidity and medium level of silky tannin. Flavours of forest berries, mushroom and chocolate persisted in a rather long savoury finish. The alcohol was at 13.5%.
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11/14/2020 - barrkel wrote: flawed
Mildly corked, damp cellar overtones, from Spanish labelled variant.
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11/7/2020 - tomjputney Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well rounded with soft tannins and nice acidity. Mostly oak and leather with a hint of blackberry and vanilla finish
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8/19/2020 - jepstein4031 wrote: 89 Points
Poured from bottle and got a lot of acid. Fruit diminishing and turning to more stewed/dried. Benefited a lot from decanting, which settled down the acid. Toasty, medium length. Definitely showing age. Great pairing with lamb chops in a Greek marinade.
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8/11/2020 - Lemmy-W wrote: 91 Points
simply gorgeous wine and one of the best QPR's.
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7/25/2020 - G.O. wrote: 84 Points
Boring Rioja with increased acidity. Well drinkable with food, but not enjoyed much.
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7/11/2020 - Motz wrote: 89 Points
Roasted coconut (American oak), tangy red fruits and berries, with modest oxidative notes. A little light on acid. Solid.
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6/14/2020 - SimonHea Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium garnet, with pronounced aromas of violets, roast strawberry, raspberry, red & black cherry, blueberry, black plum
Vanilla, clove, smoke, anise
Prune, leather, tobacco, earth, balsamic, forest floor
Pronounced flavours as aromas with medium + acidity, soft, ripe, medium tannin, medium alcohol, medium + body and a long satisfying finish.
Truly astounding value for (£20) money!
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5/25/2020 - barrkel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good quality Rioja, delivered well as expected for type. Raspberry oak juice with very soft tannins - tannins soft rather than smooth - tasty and very drinkable. There's some depth and complexity, balsamic notes, and nothing harsh or out of place.
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4/19/2020 - apple1813 Likes this wine: 92 Points
2011 La Rioja Alta S. A. Viña Arana Reserva was complex, mature and well-balanced. The Tempranillo-dominant Rioja was clear and medium ruby in colour with an amber rim. There was no sediment despite its age. The nose showed great interplay of red fruits, American oak spices and tertiary bouquet, with raspberries and red cherries up front, followed by vanilla, dill, mint and a touch of coconut, as well as Balsamic, leather and preserved orange zest. The mouthfeel was dry and medium-bodied, balanced with medium-high level of acidity and medium level of silky fine tannin. Flavours of red berries, herbs, earth and mushroom filled the satisfying long finish.
The blend was composed of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo (also known as Carignan in France), aged in used American oak for three years. Reserva and Gran Reserva from Rioja are widely available on the market, and are often ready to consume when released, while being capable to develop in-bottle over a decade or more.
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4/19/2020 - Ken332 wrote: 88 Points
Not as impressive as many of the other La Rioja Alta wines in the marketplace, but still a decent, everyday drinking wine. Served with grilled NY strip. Initial flavors of plums, wood, tobacco, modest acidity, length and finish. Not sure if the wine is in a somewhat closed stage and just needs some time. Will try again in a year or so.
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4/10/2020 - jtsejersen@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
The color of this wine is insanely intriguing. Cherry red with an orange and brown nuance. At first a very tight nose. But pouring this wine in a decanter for 3-4 hours in a chilled environment literally changes the profile of this wine substantially. Red currant, cherries, tobacco, bitter coffee beans, chocolate and a little orange peel. The taste is huge and spicy yet with elegance and finess. A fruity freshness with great structure followed by razor sharp acidity with deep minerality. Huge complexity!!!
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1/27/2020 - barrkel Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very quaffable, not silky smooth but juicy with a wedge of oak, acid is on the edge of being better for food. Not complex but hearty and satisfying.
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1/8/2020 - Double-A Likes this wine: 93 Points
Advanced nose of mushrooms, forest floor, coconut and milk chocolate. Flavourful and assertive palate; complex and complete; excellent balance; long, dynamic finish.
4.5/5
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11/22/2019 - ZMAng wrote: 87 Points
Half bottle. Initially, barnyard, meat, new oak on the nose. Sweet dark fruit, coconut, round, some heat. Medium length, grippy finish. 86-88.
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7/2/2019 - CheviotCellar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Had at the La Rioja Alta winery in Haro, Spain. Purple, medium-translucent body with shades of brown. Nose has candied plum, brown sugar, leather. Palate has walnut, strawberry, leather. Dry, short finish. Soft tannins. Very smooth.
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4/12/2019 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Holy oak!! Massive oak and vanilla on the nose and throughout the palate. Was balanced at times but also had some heat, which was surprising as it’s listed at 13.5% OH. I enjoyed it @ £26!
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3/1/2019 - SimonG wrote: 90 Points
La Rioja Alta (La Rioja Alta, Haro, Rioja): 95% Tempranillo and 5%Mazuelo. Ruby to slight garnet. Lovely nose of fading red fruit and worn leather. Elegant, comforting typicity. At least ***1/2
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2/16/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Spanish Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): 95% Tempranillo & 5% Mazuelo "from the El Palo & Las Monjas Vyds in Rodezno. Estate-owned vyds planted on loamy soils in 1973. Alcoholic fermentation took place in tanks for 15 days at a controlled temperature below 82 °F. After careful racking, malolactic fermentation took place naturally over 94 days. In March 2012, selected wines were transferred to AM oak barrels (made in-house) with an ave age of 4.5 years. During the 3 yrs the wine was aged, it was racked every 6 mos using traditional barrel-to-barrel methods. It was bottled in July 2015."
N: ™Dill & barnyd with hints of unsmoked tobacco [TY, budosyu]
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which does QUITE resolve by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the few inoffensive tannins. For now & through '22, I'm guessing. My EXC-. 93 pts ea Guía Peñín & Suckling, and 91 WA. [This vendor's $23.95 is $2 < the lowest on wine-searcher.]
™My ability to smell being impinged by sinus surgery
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2/11/2019 - Papies wrote: 88 Points
By the glass at Beast, London. Freshly opened bottle.
Young and full still, dark fruited, lots of American oak on the nose , coconut touches, spice and quite a bit of succulent dark fruit. A touch too much at this stage and really lacks complexity. 88
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