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Average Review Score: 4.9
Average Review Score: 4.9
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001
Bottles Available:
23 × 75cl from 20th Aug We keep some stock in our London Warehouse. Large volumes take 24 hours from our out of London warehouse.
- La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001
- 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.
Weather: This brand is only produced in extraordinary vintages and 2001 is one of the best we can remember. A mild winter and suitable rainfall throughout the growing cycle allowed for excellent vine development. Excellent health prevailed during the ripening stage, marked by very sunny days and notable temperature drops at night— essential conditions to obtain high quality wines. To make this wine, we chose the oldest vines, planted in poor soils with a high proportion of limestone. They produced a small number of loose clusters which had smaller grains than in previous vintages and an optimal skin-to-pulp ratio. The grapes showed a superb balance of all components and excellent polyphenolic and aromatic qualities. All this prompted us to apply the 'Selección Especial' designation —a first for this brand.
Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: Tempranillo (95%) and Mazuelo (2%) from estate-owned vineyards in Briñas, Labastida and Villalba and Graciano (3%) from the Montecillo vineyard.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 6.2 g/l
pH: 3.60
Production: 14,280 Bottles
Tasting Note: A darker shade of red and a somehow backward and reticent nose (relatively speaking) of forest floor, cold bonfire, antique shop, truffles, game, sandalwood, nutmeg and clove. The fruit is also a little darker and the palate more austere, but still showing vibrant and supple, with clean flavors and a great finish. This is my favorite modern time 890. Bravo! - Tasted by Luis Gutiérrez
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.
Weather: This brand is only produced in extraordinary vintages and 2001 is one of the best we can remember. A mild winter and suitable rainfall throughout the growing cycle allowed for excellent vine development. Excellent health prevailed during the ripening stage, marked by very sunny days and notable temperature drops at night— essential conditions to obtain high quality wines. To make this wine, we chose the oldest vines, planted in poor soils with a high proportion of limestone. They produced a small number of loose clusters which had smaller grains than in previous vintages and an optimal skin-to-pulp ratio. The grapes showed a superb balance of all components and excellent polyphenolic and aromatic qualities. All this prompted us to apply the 'Selección Especial' designation —a first for this brand.
Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: Tempranillo (95%) and Mazuelo (2%) from estate-owned vineyards in Briñas, Labastida and Villalba and Graciano (3%) from the Montecillo vineyard.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 6.2 g/l
pH: 3.60
Production: 14,280 Bottles
Tasting Note: A darker shade of red and a somehow backward and reticent nose (relatively speaking) of forest floor, cold bonfire, antique shop, truffles, game, sandalwood, nutmeg and clove. The fruit is also a little darker and the palate more austere, but still showing vibrant and supple, with clean flavors and a great finish. This is my favorite modern time 890. Bravo! - Tasted by Luis Gutiérrez
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.
95/100
“2001 is a great vintage for all the wines from La Rioja Alta but the long-awaited 2001 Gran Reserva 890 is otherworldly. 2001 was a slow maturing vintage which produced smaller grapes especially in the old vineyards on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria in the villages of Brinas, Labastida and Villalba where the vineyards that make it into this wine are located. The final blend contains a majority of Tempranillo with 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo. The wine ferments with the natural yeasts attached to the grapes in stainless steel vats and is aged for six years in used American oak barrels with 12 manual rackings. A selection of the best barrels were blended together and bottled unfiltered in March 2008. Only 15,000 bottles were produced. It shows (even) younger and more concentrated than the 2004 904, a darker shade of red and a somehow backward and reticent nose (relatively speaking) of forest floor, cold bonfire, antique shop, truffles, game, sandalwood, nutmeg and clove. The fruit is also a little darker and the palate more austere, but still showing vibrant and supple, with clean flavors and a great finish. This is my favorite modern time 890. Bravo! Drink 2016-2026.
”
”
17.5/20
“The wine totally fulfils expectations for a classic rioja style. Very complex and open nose, woody and spicy showing liquorice, cloves, vanilla and earthiness. It has an acceptable touch of nail varnish. On the palate it is extremely polished and savoury, almost texture-free for a red wine. Very leathery aftertaste. It has concentrated flavours and is delicate in the mouth.”
17.5/20
“Bricky garnet but looks no older than the 2004. Less aromatic than the 2004, sweeter smelling – still some red fruit and vanilla though there are mature aromas too. Denser and longer and altogether more sensual than the 2004. Long and elegant and fully mature but with plenty of life left on a plateau of maturity.”
16.5++/20
“This looks deceptively modest from the label. Shaded ruby with black highlights. Very rich and intense with some gaminess. Real intensity. Served slightly cool, it did not show itself to the max but this is pretty special stuff.”
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 £158.00 Mix 6 Price £154.00 each Mix 12 Price £152.00 each |
Spain's top Rioja Producer
Single Price £178.00 Mix 6 Price £174.00 each Mix 12 Price £172.00 each |
Spain's top Rioja Producer
