La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2011
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2011
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95 pts Wine Advocate (Luis Gutiérrez)
There's no new 890 until 2028, so this year, I once again tasted the 2011 Gran Reserva 890, their longest-aging red, which matured in used American oak barrels for six years, and produced just three or four times per decade. It's mostly Tempranillo with 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo, with the Graciano vinified separately. 2011 was a warm and ripe year, but the wine has medium ripeness and 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.7 and 5.8 grams of acidity. It has a tertiary nose, with notes of wet fur, leather, truffles, spices, earth and forest floor, decayed leaves and a hint of smoke. The palate is velvety, with fully resolved tannins and a long, very tasty finish. It's by far the most evolved of the wines I tasted this time, with some rustic character, starting to show notes of iodine and an earthy touch. It might not be as long lived as I initially anticipated. It finishes with a slight bitterness. 60,956 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2016. (Review 3/12/26)
95 pts Vinous Media
The 2011 Gran Reserva 890 from Rioja Alta is a fully evolved red. Already mahogany in hue, it's steeped in tertiary complexity. Aromas include wild herbs like thyme and oregano alongside hints of cola and licorice, clearly revealing its maturity. This is silky and vibrant, with tension and finely polished tannins that glide across the palate. There's precision to the development here. This gradually unfurls notes of black olive, a faint tarry edge and a medley of herbal tones. It is a classic Rioja of depth and elegance. The animal whiff on the finish is subtle, more an indication of character than a flaw, adding an extra layer to its sophisticated composition. (Review 5/2025)
Grapes: Tempranillo 95% / Mazuelo 2% / Graciano 3%
ABV: 14%
Vineyards: Tempranillo (95%) and Mazuelo (2%) from estate-owned vineyards in Briñas, Labastida and Villalba and Graciano (3%) from our Montecillo vineyard.
Fermentation: After gentle destemming and crushing, alcoholic fermentation took place over 16 days at temperatures below 26°C. Tempranillo and Mazuelo were blended in the vineyard and fermented together, while Graciano was vinified separately. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally.
Élevage: After natural winter stabilization, we selected the finest wines, which were then aged for six years in barrels, undergoing ten traditional rackings. During this period, we carefully selected, through tasting and analysis, the barrels that best represented the character of Gran Reserva 890. Bottled in July 2018.