Region: Rioja, Spain

Varietal: Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo

Producer: Bodegas Riojanas is one of Rioja’s classic, family‑rooted houses, founded in 1890 in Cenicero by the Artacho and Carreras families and still run by their descendants today. Over more than 130 years, the winery has helped define quality Rioja, with iconic labels like Monte Real and Viña Albina shaping perceptions of the region’s traditional style — especially in Rioja Alta, the cooler, more elevation‑driven subzone known for elegant, ageworthy reds. Viña Albina takes its name from Albina, the wife of one of the founders, and has long stood for a classic, meticulous approach to Rioja craftsmanship.

Vineyard & Winemaking: The 2016 Viña Albina Gran Reserva is a blend dominated by Tempranillo with supporting roles from Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, all sourced from selected vineyards in the Rioja Alta zone. Winemaking begins with careful manual picking and parcel‑by‑parcel selection followed by gentle crushing and fermentation with chosen yeast strains. As a Gran Reserva, it follows Rioja’s strict aging regimen — about 36 months in medium‑toast American oak barrels (imparting savory spice and integrated wood notes) and a minimum of two years in bottle before release, allowing harmony between fruit, structure, and tertiary development.

Tasting Notes: Now showing attractive maturity, the 2016 Viña Albina Gran Reserva pours a deep ruby with subtle teja (brick) nuances around the rim. The nose melds fresh notes of sour cherry, wild strawberry, and raspberry with beautifully developed floral hints of violet leaf and rose, followed by warm spice — nutmeg, cinnamon, and pink peppercorn — from extended oak aging. On the palate, the wine is potent yet refined: ripe red fruit coexists with savory timber, leather, dried tobacco, dark chocolate, and an earthy undercurrent. A lively core of acidity and polished tannins supports a long, layered finish marked by savory complexity and gentle tertiary aromatics — a classic Rioja Gran Reserva showing both depth and grace.