Viña Alberdi Selección Especial, Rioja Reserva, La Rioja Alta S.A., 2021
Viña Alberdi Selección Especial, Rioja Reserva, La Rioja Alta S.A., 2021
- 75cl
- 14%
- Red Still
- Tempranillo
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2036
Est. delivery in July, 2026
This is 100% estate-grown Tempranillo from five of La Rioja Alta's finest vineyards, aged for two years in American oak from the estate's own cooperage.
The 2021 vintage in Rioja was exceptional - long summer days and cool nights allowed for gradual, even ripening. Rarely can wines under £20 a bottle pack so much interesting and complex flavour; notes of leather and cacao envelop a core of striking red and black fruit, with a classical Rioja structure that will age effortlessly and a drinking window to match.
The vineyards are located in Rioja Alta, where clay-limestone soils and Atlantic influence create ideal conditions for Tempranillo. The higher altitude and cooler climate preserve acidity whilst extending the growing season, allowing gradual ripening. These soils retain moisture during dry summers whilst providing excellent drainage, contributing to the wine's characteristic elegance and ageing potential.
Rioja Reserva requires minimum 36 months ageing, with at least 12 months in oak barrels of 330 litres or less. The designation sits between Crianza and Gran Reserva, representing wines with significant bottle age that display both fruit character and developed complexity. Rioja's three sub-zones each contribute different characteristics, with Rioja Alta prized for producing the most elegant and age-worthy expressions.
The 2021 vintage arrived after a particularly challenging growing season that kept Rioja's winemakers on their toes. Spring brought late frosts that nipped at the early budbreak, followed by a summer that swung between dry spells and sudden downpours. The saving grace came with a long, steady autumn that allowed patient growers to wait for proper ripeness, though harvest dates varied dramatically depending on how each producer navigated the season's curveballs.
What emerged from this unpredictable year is a vintage of genuine character rather than easy charm. The Tempranillo shows more structure and grip than we've seen in recent warmer years, with fruit that feels focused rather than generous. Garnacha fared particularly well in the higher altitude sites, producing wines with lovely freshness and spice. These aren't wines for immediate gratification – we'd suggest cellaring the better examples until 2026, though the more accessible styles are drinking nicely now with some breathing room.
What the critics say:
"The 2021 Viña Alberdi Selección Especial is only the second vintage to receive the mention "Selección Especial"—the first was the 2001— pointing at a very special vintage for this wine. It was produced with Tempranillo from Mayorita, Las Monjas, El Palo and El Bardal in the village of Rodezno and Alto del Rey in Labastida. The lightly destemmed and crushed grapes fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in American oak barrels for two years, the first year in new barrels and the second year in well-seasoned ones with an average age of 4.5 years, during which time, the wine was racked from barrel to barrel four times. It has 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.57 and 5.7 grams of acidity—very good parameters and indicators of freshness and balance. It's very classical and very clean, showing incipient complexity and just a hint of evolution and tertiary notes. It has terrific balance and freshness and pungent, focused and precise flavors. Without a doubt, this is the finest Alberdi I can remember. 650,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024."
OUR GROWERS
La Rioja Alta
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