93 points Zekun Shuai (JamesSuckling.com): "A classical, typical Rioja Alta red with elegant notes of vanilla, coconut, smoked spices and strawberries. Refined and suave, with fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Juicy and elegant. Really approachable now, but give it two more years to get more mushroom complexity. (8/5/24)"
92+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2020 Rioja “Viña Alberdi” Reserva from La Rioja Alta is made from some of their higher altitude vineyards, with the vines at least forty years of age. It is crafted entirely from tempranillo and is aged for two years in American oak barrels, with the first year of élevage spent in new casks and the second in three year-old barrels. The 2020 vintage here comes in at fourteen percent alcohol and offers up a lovely bouquet of red and black raspberries, cigar wrapper, a beautiful array of Rioja spice tones, a fine foundation of chalky soil and a lovely framing of American oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a gorgeous core of fruit, excellent soil undertow, firm, well-integrated tannins and excellent length and grip on the very well balanced finish. The wine is already starting to get nicely velvety on the attack, but it has enough backend tannins to merit a brief period of hibernation in the cellar before starting to drink the wine with abandon. Fine juice. 2033-2075+. (May/Jun 2025)"
92 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "The younger wine here is the 2020 Viña Alberdi, a versatile version of the Haro reds. It was produced with Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for two years (it's sold as Reserva in international markets and Crianza in Spain). It has 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and five grams of acidity. It has a classical nose of ripe fruit, American oak and spices, the subtle notes of forest floor, still young. The palate is velvety and very balanced with polished tannins. Approachable but should also age. 650,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023. Drink: 2024-2029. (2/29/24)"
92 points Tim Atkin, MW: "Sold as Crianza in Spain but a Reserva elsewhere, this is a quintessential traditional style Tempranillo from Julio Sáenz and La Rioja Alta, with two years' ageing in 50% new American oak, pomegranate, dill, tobacco leaf and desiccated coconut flavours, racy acidity and sculpted tannins. Very drinkable. 2025-2032. (2025)"
92+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2020 Rioja “Viña Alberdi” Reserva from La Rioja Alta is made from some of their higher altitude vineyards, with the vines at least forty years of age. It is crafted entirely from tempranillo and is aged for two years in American oak barrels, with the first year of élevage spent in new casks and the second in three year-old barrels. The 2020 vintage here comes in at fourteen percent alcohol and offers up a lovely bouquet of red and black raspberries, cigar wrapper, a beautiful array of Rioja spice tones, a fine foundation of chalky soil and a lovely framing of American oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a gorgeous core of fruit, excellent soil undertow, firm, well-integrated tannins and excellent length and grip on the very well balanced finish. The wine is already starting to get nicely velvety on the attack, but it has enough backend tannins to merit a brief period of hibernation in the cellar before starting to drink the wine with abandon. Fine juice. 2033-2075+. (May/Jun 2025)"
92 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "The younger wine here is the 2020 Viña Alberdi, a versatile version of the Haro reds. It was produced with Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for two years (it's sold as Reserva in international markets and Crianza in Spain). It has 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and five grams of acidity. It has a classical nose of ripe fruit, American oak and spices, the subtle notes of forest floor, still young. The palate is velvety and very balanced with polished tannins. Approachable but should also age. 650,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023. Drink: 2024-2029. (2/29/24)"
92 points Tim Atkin, MW: "Sold as Crianza in Spain but a Reserva elsewhere, this is a quintessential traditional style Tempranillo from Julio Sáenz and La Rioja Alta, with two years' ageing in 50% new American oak, pomegranate, dill, tobacco leaf and desiccated coconut flavours, racy acidity and sculpted tannins. Very drinkable. 2025-2032. (2025)"
| Product SKU | 353613 |
| Producer | La Rioja Alta |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Varietal | Tempranillo/Tinto Fino |
| Designation | Reserva |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| Blend | 100% Tempranillo |
| ABV | 14.0% |
| Ships To |
