La Rioja Alta "Viña Arana Barquito" Gran Reserva 2017
2017, Rioja Alta, Rioja, Spain
La Rioja Alta "Viña Arana Barquito" Gran Reserva 2017
Tempranillo
La Rioja Alta
Glass
$52Bottle
$180Glass
$52Bottle
$180Loading tasteimonials...
Profile & Story
Vina Arana Gran Reserva 2017 is 95% Tempranillo from the Las Cuevas, El Palo and Las Monjas vineyards at Rodezno, complemented by 5% Graciano from the Montecillo estate at Fuenmayor. 2017 was the year of the historic spring frost, which did not affect the quality of the plots selected for this wine but did cut yields; La Rioja Alta rated it Excellent (97 points), a vintage of magnificent structure and great ageing potential. The grapes travelled in small refrigerated boxes, were optically sorted, fermented at 27°C for 16 days and went through natural malolactic fermentation. From March 2018 the best lots aged three years in the house's own American oak barrels of an average age of 4.5 years, racked barrel to barrel every six months, and the final blend was bottled in January 2022. 'Barquito' is the label under which the wine is released in partnership with Jose Ignacio Cuenca's little boat project — the same Barquito paper-boat drawing that gives the Sonoma rose on this list its name.
Tasting Notes
Intense garnet colour, clean and bright, with a soft cherry-red hue on the rim. On the nose it stands out for its high aromatic intensity, offering red fruits, raspberry, blackberry and redcurrant intertwined with balsamic and spicy notes from its long barrel ageing: Lebanese cedar, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, mocha and toasted caramel. On the palate it is very well balanced, with a pleasant acidity that enhances its elegant freshness and smooth, delicate tannins that lengthen the finish, and a long aftertaste marked by the signature freshness of Vina Arana.
Pairing Recommendation
Particularly recommended with all kinds of meats, stews and seasoned fish, and with desserts made with chocolate couverture or red berries. Perfect as an after-dinner drink.