La Rioja Alta Vina Arana Gran Reserva Rioja 2014

The La Rioja Alta Vina Arana Gran Reserva Rioja is ready to drink now and is masquerading like a wine twice this price. Pour a glass, close your eyes, and let yourself be transported. You'll want to think about porcini mushroom risotto, veal roast with sage jus, and perhaps a dark chocolate mousse with a raspberry coulis topping. Things like that.

Decanter: "Arana commemorates one of La Rioja Alta's historic families. The Tempranillo (94%) and Graciano (6%) are aged separately in American oak barrels for three years before blending, then for three years in bottle (two years less than the 904, and six years less than the 890). The winery's keynote to this Rioja is 'freshness'. I agree. Drink 2020 - 2030.” Aug 2020

James Suckling: "Lots of mushroom and walnut aromas with plum and leather, too. It’s full-bodied, but very soft and creamy-textured with lots of old wood, mushroom and ripe fruit on the finish. Some chocolate and hazelnut. Complex and gorgeous. Drink or hold.” Jan 2021

Winery: "Lively, clean, medium depth, garnet–red with an incipient pink rim. Intense aromas with outstanding notes of redcurrants, raspberries, wild blackberries and ripe red plums creating a complex bouquet together with the balsamic notes from the barrel: vanilla, cloves, coffee, caramel and brioche. Very tasty in the mouth, evincing the brand’s distinctive classic texture. Fresh, vibrant and well-balanced, with amiable sweet tannins. Its long stay in the bottle rewards us with that great complexity and elegance typical of this style of Rioja wines. To enjoy now, but with a long life ahead.

Particularly recommended with all kinds of meats, stews, seasoned fish, and desserts with chocolate couverture or red berries. Perfect as an after-dinner drink."