The highly-anticipated 2005 vintage of La Rioja Alta’s Gran Reserva 890 ‘Seleccion Especial’ has been released in the UK, and its makers say it’s the estate’s best ever offering.
La Rioja Alta makes an average of just three releases a decade. James Snoxell, head of buying at La Rioja Alta’s UK agent Armit Wines, said: “Already expected to rival 1964, which is widely recognised as the best ever Rioja vintage, the winery waited 13 years for the wine to be ready to drink before unveiling this milestone release.”
The wine is a blend of 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo, and was matured for six years in barrel before being bottled in 2012, and left to age in the estate’s cellars ever since.
According to winemaker Julio Saenz, the estate “truly believes this to be one of the best wines that we have ever produced”.
It’s available in the UK now for £465 for a case of six in bond, but only for a limited period.
