Decanter, one of the world's leading wine magazines, has just published its 2014 Top 50 Wines of the Year list, picked from the 5000 wines they tasted throughout the year. This exclusive list includes only one Rioja red, the 1998 Gran Reserva 890 by La Rioja Alta, S.A.
In its description of this Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo wine, Decanter spares no praise, defining it as the "epitome of classic" underscoring its aromas dominated by "black tea, fine leather and balsamic notes" as well as its "high-toned mouthfeel, with great acidity and natural concentration." It is described in short as "a sober, refined wine."
In addition, the latest (January 2015) issue of the British magazine offers two other magnificent pieces of news for our Haro winery. On the one hand, Viña Arana Reserva 2006 is also the only Rioja included in the list of Great Festive Buys for the Holiday Season.
Viña Arana 2005 is included as well in a special feature on the '25 top Rioja buys' written by the Spanish wine specialist taster Sarah Jane Evans. The Master of Wine, extols the perfect combination of classic and modern style and asks:
"What to choose from La Rioja Alta? Gran Reserva 890 surely; or the lovely 904? Or the popular Ardanza? All are great but try Arana."