- Frequently Searched
- Billecart-Salmon
- Bollinger
- Charles Heidsieck
- Dom Perignon
- Laurent-Perrier
- Louis Roederer
- Moet & Chandon
- Pol Roger
- Ruinart
- Taittinger
- All - see brand overviews
- Andre Jacquart
- Armand De Brignac
- Ayala
- Barons de Rothschild
- Bereche et Fils
- Billecart-Salmon
- Bollinger
- Cedric Bouchard
- Champagne Le Mesnil
- Champagne Marguet
- Champagne Rare
- Champagne Suenen
- Champagne Telmont
- Charles Heidsieck
- Delamotte
- Deutz
- Devaux
- Dhondt-Grellet
- Dom Perignon
- Dom Ruinart
- Domaine Alexandre Bonnet Les Riceys
- Domaine La Borderie
- Drappier
- Egly-Ouriet
- Eric Rodez
- Fleur De Miraval
- Girard-Bonnet
- Gosset
- Henri Giraud
- Henriot
- Jacques Lassaigne
- Jacques Selosse
- Jacquesson
- Jerome Prevost
- Krug
- Lanson
- Laurent-Perrier
- Leclerc Briant
- Louis Roederer
- Miniere
- Moet & Chandon
- Nicolas Maillart
- Palmer & Co
- Pascal Agrapart
- Penet-Chardonnet
- Perrier-Jouet
- Philipponnat
- Pierre Gimonnet et Fils
- Pierre Peters
- Piper-Heidsieck
- Pol Roger
- Pommery
- Roger Coulon
- Ruinart
- Salon
- Taittinger
- Ulysse Collin
- Vazart-Coquart
- Veuve Clicquot
- Vilmart & Cie
- Yann Alexandre
Checkout Allows Multi-Address
& Multi Person Drops
Same Day In/Near London
From £9.00
Free 2 Day Delivery
On £250+ or 6 bottles (UK Mainland)
Wrapping, Cards
& Messages
Worldwide Shipping
From £30.00
In Bond Sales
Store with us or Transfer
Average Review Score: 4.9
Average Review Score: 4.9
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 1994
- La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 1994
- La Rioja Alta History
- La Rioja Alta Current & Past Cellar Masters
La Rioja Alta, S.A. was established in 1890 in Haro, in the celebrated Rioja wine region of northern Spain. It was founded by five local growers who shared a vision of producing wines of structure, elegance and long-term aging potential — at a time when many Rioja wines were simpler and less age-worthy. In 1904, an early milestone came when one founder’s own winery (Ardanza) merged with La Rioja Alta; this union helped shape the winery’s identity and gave rise to iconic labels such as Gran Reserva 904. The name La Rioja Alta refers both to the winery and to the Rioja Alta subzone — the high altitude western part of the Rioja DOCa, long associated with high-quality Rioja wines.
It is unusual for a great bodega of Rioja to own vineyards, but La Rioja Alta own 360ha from which they can source top-quality grapes, resulting in excellent fruit and richness throughout their wines. Tempranillo dominates the plantings, complemented with a small proportion of Garnacha and Graciano vines. The company is renowned for the quality of its Reservas and in particular for its Gran Reservas, the 904 and the 890. The latter are produced only in exceptional years, are amongst the finest wines being produced in Rioja today. Gran Reserva 890 is named, rather confusingly, after the date of the creation of La Rioja Alta (1890). It is the non-plus-ultra of the family, a wine that slumbers patiently for 6 years in oak, then is allowed to rest in bottle for a few more years before its released.
Ageing: After the first and then the malolactic fermentations the wine was put into “barricas” of American oak in June 1995. It remained six years in cask, being racked by hand every six months before being bottled in June 2001. In order to preserve and maximize its aromatic complexity the wine was not filtered going directly from cask to bottle.
Weather in 1994: The high potential alcohol content, the excellent colour, dry extract and pH and sufficient acidity all lead one to believe that this could be one of the great Rioja vintages. The weather was the determining factor: a warm, fairly dry winter started growth early then the vines were reined back by some colder weather in April. The summer was benign so that by the first fortnight of September the grapes were already ripe for picking. A few days rain that month fattened up and increased the crop without harming quality. The outcome of the vintage was 244 million kilos (171 million litres).
Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: 95% Tempranillo from Briñas, Labastida and Villalba; the balance Mazuelo and Graciano from the vineyards Melchorón I and II (Rodezno).
Alcohol: 12.8%
Total Acidity: 6.65 g/l
Tasting Note: Deep red. Dried strawberry and cherry on the nose, with suave oak spices, mocha, lavender, rose and cured meat aromas, plus an exotic hint of incense. Round and plush, with an insinuating sweetness to the red fruit flavors and gentle lift on the back end. The expanding fruit flavors are joined by exotic flowers, smoke and spices on the finish. - Tasted by Josh Raynolds
It is unusual for a great bodega of Rioja to own vineyards, but La Rioja Alta own 360ha from which they can source top-quality grapes, resulting in excellent fruit and richness throughout their wines. Tempranillo dominates the plantings, complemented with a small proportion of Garnacha and Graciano vines. The company is renowned for the quality of its Reservas and in particular for its Gran Reservas, the 904 and the 890. The latter are produced only in exceptional years, are amongst the finest wines being produced in Rioja today. Gran Reserva 890 is named, rather confusingly, after the date of the creation of La Rioja Alta (1890). It is the non-plus-ultra of the family, a wine that slumbers patiently for 6 years in oak, then is allowed to rest in bottle for a few more years before its released.
Ageing: After the first and then the malolactic fermentations the wine was put into “barricas” of American oak in June 1995. It remained six years in cask, being racked by hand every six months before being bottled in June 2001. In order to preserve and maximize its aromatic complexity the wine was not filtered going directly from cask to bottle.
Weather in 1994: The high potential alcohol content, the excellent colour, dry extract and pH and sufficient acidity all lead one to believe that this could be one of the great Rioja vintages. The weather was the determining factor: a warm, fairly dry winter started growth early then the vines were reined back by some colder weather in April. The summer was benign so that by the first fortnight of September the grapes were already ripe for picking. A few days rain that month fattened up and increased the crop without harming quality. The outcome of the vintage was 244 million kilos (171 million litres).
Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: 95% Tempranillo from Briñas, Labastida and Villalba; the balance Mazuelo and Graciano from the vineyards Melchorón I and II (Rodezno).
Alcohol: 12.8%
Total Acidity: 6.65 g/l
Tasting Note: Deep red. Dried strawberry and cherry on the nose, with suave oak spices, mocha, lavender, rose and cured meat aromas, plus an exotic hint of incense. Round and plush, with an insinuating sweetness to the red fruit flavors and gentle lift on the back end. The expanding fruit flavors are joined by exotic flowers, smoke and spices on the finish. - Tasted by Josh Raynolds
La Rioja Alta, S.A. was established in 1890 in Haro, in the celebrated Rioja wine region of northern Spain. It was founded by five local growers who shared a vision of producing wines of structure, elegance and long-term aging potential — at a time when many Rioja wines were simpler and less age-worthy. In 1904, an early milestone came when one founder’s own winery (Ardanza) merged with La Rioja Alta; this union helped shape the winery’s identity and gave rise to iconic labels such as Gran Reserva 904. The name La Rioja Alta refers both to the winery and to the Rioja Alta subzone — the high altitude western part of the Rioja DOCa, long associated with high-quality Rioja wines.
It is unusual for a great bodega of Rioja to own vineyards, but La Rioja Alta own 360ha from which they can source top-quality grapes, resulting in excellent fruit and richness throughout their wines. Tempranillo dominates the plantings, complemented with a small proportion of Garnacha and Graciano vines. The company is renowned for the quality of its Reservas and in particular for its Gran Reservas, the 904 and the 890. The latter are produced only in exceptional years, are amongst the finest wines being produced in Rioja today. Gran Reserva 890 is named, rather confusingly, after the date of the creation of La Rioja Alta (1890). It is the non-plus-ultra of the family, a wine that slumbers patiently for 6 years in oak, then is allowed to rest in bottle for a few more years before its released.
It is unusual for a great bodega of Rioja to own vineyards, but La Rioja Alta own 360ha from which they can source top-quality grapes, resulting in excellent fruit and richness throughout their wines. Tempranillo dominates the plantings, complemented with a small proportion of Garnacha and Graciano vines. The company is renowned for the quality of its Reservas and in particular for its Gran Reservas, the 904 and the 890. The latter are produced only in exceptional years, are amongst the finest wines being produced in Rioja today. Gran Reserva 890 is named, rather confusingly, after the date of the creation of La Rioja Alta (1890). It is the non-plus-ultra of the family, a wine that slumbers patiently for 6 years in oak, then is allowed to rest in bottle for a few more years before its released.
Cellar Master - Julio Sáenz
Winery Location: Haro | Rioja, Spain
Wine Region: Haro, Rioja
Annual Production (bottles): 1,500,000
Cellar Master History at La Rioja Alta:
Julio Sáenz - 1996 to current
Julio Sáenz has been the guiding force behind the wines of La Rioja Alta for nearly three decades. He joined the estate in 1996, beginning his career there in quality control, where he developed an intimate understanding of the house style and its uncompromising standards. Over time, his role evolved from technical oversight to full oenological leadership, and in 2005 he was appointed Head Winemaker and Technical Director of the entire La Rioja Alta group.
In this position, Sáenz oversees production not only at La Rioja Alta in Haro, but also across the group’s other estates: Torre de Oña in Rioja Alavesa, Aster in Ribera del Duero, and Lagar de Cervera in Rías Baixas. His academic background is somewhat unconventional for a traditional Rioja winemaker — he first trained as a pharmaceutical chemist before completing formal studies in viticulture and oenology. This scientific foundation has shaped his meticulous, detail-oriented approach, bringing precision and analytical rigor to wines rooted in long-standing tradition.
Under his leadership, La Rioja Alta has continued to honor its classical Rioja identity — defined by extended ageing in barrel and bottle — while refining vineyard selection and strengthening quality control at every stage. The result is a portfolio that remains true to its heritage yet consistently meets modern standards of excellence. Sáenz’s contribution has not gone unnoticed; he has received significant industry recognition, including being named Best Winemaker by La Semana Vitivinícola, alongside high acclaim for the 2010 Gran Reserva 890 — a wine that exemplifies both the estate’s legacy and his steady hand at its helm.
Winery Location: Haro | Rioja, Spain
Wine Region: Haro, Rioja
Annual Production (bottles): 1,500,000
Cellar Master History at La Rioja Alta:
Julio Sáenz - 1996 to current
Julio Sáenz has been the guiding force behind the wines of La Rioja Alta for nearly three decades. He joined the estate in 1996, beginning his career there in quality control, where he developed an intimate understanding of the house style and its uncompromising standards. Over time, his role evolved from technical oversight to full oenological leadership, and in 2005 he was appointed Head Winemaker and Technical Director of the entire La Rioja Alta group.
In this position, Sáenz oversees production not only at La Rioja Alta in Haro, but also across the group’s other estates: Torre de Oña in Rioja Alavesa, Aster in Ribera del Duero, and Lagar de Cervera in Rías Baixas. His academic background is somewhat unconventional for a traditional Rioja winemaker — he first trained as a pharmaceutical chemist before completing formal studies in viticulture and oenology. This scientific foundation has shaped his meticulous, detail-oriented approach, bringing precision and analytical rigor to wines rooted in long-standing tradition.
Under his leadership, La Rioja Alta has continued to honor its classical Rioja identity — defined by extended ageing in barrel and bottle — while refining vineyard selection and strengthening quality control at every stage. The result is a portfolio that remains true to its heritage yet consistently meets modern standards of excellence. Sáenz’s contribution has not gone unnoticed; he has received significant industry recognition, including being named Best Winemaker by La Semana Vitivinícola, alongside high acclaim for the 2010 Gran Reserva 890 — a wine that exemplifies both the estate’s legacy and his steady hand at its helm.
92/100
“The 1994 Gran Reserva 890, from an excellent vintage, exhibits a dark ruby/brick color. Its complex perfume is composed of nuances of scorched earth, cedar, mineral, red currants and cherry. On the palate, additional notes of toast, fungi, and floral scents emerge. This elegant wine has sufficient depth, concentration and weight to drink well for another 6-8 years.
”
”
91/100
“Deep red. Dried strawberry and cherry on the nose, with suave oak spices, mocha, lavender, rose and cured meat aromas, plus an exotic hint of incense. Round and plush, with an insinuating sweetness to the red fruit flavors and gentle lift on the back end. The expanding fruit flavors are joined by exotic flowers, smoke and spices on the finish. This should hold nicely, but why wait? ”
Single Price £124.00 Mix 6 Price £120.00 each Mix 12 Price £118.00 each |
Best vintage for this producer since 1970
Single Price £178.00 Mix 6 Price £174.00 each Mix 12 Price £172.00 each |
Spain's top Rioja Producer
Single Price £188.00 Mix 6 Price £184.00 each Mix 12 Price £182.00 each |
Spain's top Rioja Producer
