2018 La Rioja Alta, Rioja Reserva "Alberdi"

Denne rene Tempranillo er den eneste, der bliver frigivet fra La Rioja Alta i 2018 årgangen. Alle druer planlagt til 890, 904, Arana og Ardanza er blevet til Alberdi! Vinificeret i ståltank og dernæst lagret 1 år på ny barrique inden yderligere et års lagring på 4 år gamle fade. Herefter udvikler vinen sig på flaske. Den åbne og meget tilgængelige næse viser atter fremragende niveau. Dyb, krydret og meget givende i sin frugt med toner af jordbær, lakrids, ribs, læder, blomster, vanille, chokolade og sød røg. Smagen viser dernæst vingårdens klassiske, elegante stil: Den afrundede, krydrede frugt, som i 2018 er i særklasse, breder sig flot ud over tungen, mens en fuldmoden, frisk og levende syre giver rankhed og styring. Ungdommelig, krydret, kompleks og balanceret og udstyret med vingårdens signatur af finesse, dette en klassisk Alberdi, og den vil formentlig blive endnu mere fintvævet i sin aroma med yderligere flaskelagring. Et kæmpe "Best buy"! (-2034+) ****

93 points James Suckling: "A pretty nose of raspberries, cassis, fresh herbs, vanilla and sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied with round tannins. Creamy and fruity with chocolatey character on the mid-palate. Supple finish with excellent length. Tangy acidity. 100% tempranillo."

92 points Robert Parker Wine Advcocate: "Their young and fresh red 2018 Viña Alberdi, already a Reserva (Crianza in Spain), matured in oak barrel for two years—in new barrels for the first year and in used barrels for the second year. During the élevage, they racked the wine manually from barrel to barrel four times. 2018 was a year of lower alcohol and more freshness in the wines, and they thought the wines were not designed for the long haul; so, they didn't produce any other wine, and so the only wine from 2018 IS VIÑA ALBERDI! Which means that all the Tempranillo grapes that were destined for 890, 904 and all the other wines went to this wine. They didn't use the Garnacha (which was sold in bulk). So, this is a super- Viña Alberdi, which shows more Crianza style in this cooler vintage but with very good depth and complexity, perhaps a more modern and fresher style. The wine has a seamless palate and a juicy texture, with more color than other vintages, more intensity, more fruit... It has grapes from very good vineyards and poor soils that were never destined for this wine. Highly recommendable and very versatile. It has potential to age."

92 points Tim Atkin