La Rioja Alta : Vina Arana Gran Reserva 1996
Pre-arrivals - Stock in France
Guaranteed provenanceWines sourced directly from the producing estates
Description
Tasting characteristics and serving advice for Viña Arana Reserva 1996 by La Rioja Alta
Tasting
Appearance
The wine shows a cherry-red color.
Nose
Elegant and intense, the bouquet reveals aromas of ripe fruit accompanied by notes of vanilla and coconut, a signature of aging in American oak barrels.
Palate
Powerful and perfectly balanced, the palate unveils well-integrated components that harmonize within a remarkable structure.
Food and wine pairing
This Viña Arana Reserva 1996 pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted lamb, as well as boldly flavored red meats and traditional Spanish dishes.
Serving and cellaring
Viña Arana Reserva 1996 can be enjoyed now or cellared until around 2030 to reveal increasing complexity and a remarkably long finish.
A Rioja Gran Reserva with complex aromas and remarkable structure
The estate
La Rioja Alta, founded in 1890 in Haro, La Rioja, remains an essential family benchmark. This historic house farms several hundred hectares of vineyards. Led by descendants of the founding families, it perpetuates the legacy by combining traditional methods with modern innovations, earning international recognition among the most admired wineries.
The vineyard
The grapes used to craft this Arana Gran Reserva 1996 come from selected plots in Rioja: Labastida and Rodezno, two distinct terroirs that each contribute their specific characteristics to the final blend.
The vintage
The year 1996 in Rioja was marked by a mild autumn and winter, followed by an uneven spring budbreak. The growing season proved ideal, with sufficient rainfall and very healthy vines by late August. September and October were more changeable, slowing ripening but increasing the harvest volume. This excellent vintage, following the remarkable 1994 and 1995, produced deeply colored, balanced, and firmly structured wines, perfect for barrel aging.
Winemaking and aging
Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations for Viña Arana Reserva 1996 were carried out at the Labastida facilities. The wine was transferred to American oak barrels in April 1997, with rackings into clean barrels every six months, before bottling in April 2000.
Grape varieties
Graciano and Mazuelo make up this traditional Viña Arana blend, each variety contributing specific qualities to the complexity of the final wine.
