La Rioja Alta S.A. – 2016 Viña Arana Gran Reserva

La Rioja Alta S.A. – 2016 Viña Arana Gran Reserva.

An elegantly sculpted Gran Reserva that captures the essence of classical Rioja through patience, precision and an unwavering commitment to traditional craftsmanship. Viña Arana has always been the most restrained and refined of La Rioja Alta S.A.’s long-aged wines, and the outstanding 2016 vintage provides the perfect framework for this philosophy: balance over power, detail over density.

About the Winery

Founded in 1890 in Haro, La Rioja Alta S.A. remains one of Rioja’s most respected and influential producers. The estate’s reputation is built on meticulous vineyard selection, extended ageing and the continued use of its own cooperage, where American oak barrels are crafted to exacting house specifications. Time is regarded not as a luxury, but as an essential ingredient.

Viña Arana Gran Reserva is sourced from selected vineyards in Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, with Tempranillo forming the backbone and a small proportion of Graciano adding aromatic lift and structural freshness. The vineyards in Rodezno, with their limestone-rich loamy soils, contribute finesse and tension, while the gravelly alluvial soils of Fuenmayor provide depth and textural complexity.

If you would like to learn more about La Rioja Alta S.A. check out our article here, and our podcast with their CEO Guillermo de Aranzabal Bittner here, as part of our series Grape Masters.

About the Wine

The 2016 vintage was marked by moderate and well-distributed rainfall, which tempered summer heat and ensured a long, even ripening cycle. The result is a wine of remarkable harmony: ripe fruit, vibrant acidity and finely rounded tannins, all achieved without excess. For La Rioja Alta S.A., 2016 stands among the estate’s most successful recent harvests.

The wine is composed of 95% Tempranillo from the Las Cuevas, El Palo and Las Monjas vineyards in Rodezno, complemented by 5% Graciano from the Montecillo vineyard in Fuenmayor. Harvesting was carried out entirely by hand, with an initial selection in the vineyard, followed by a second, optical selection at the winery. To preserve aromatic purity and fruit integrity, the grapes were transported in refrigerated vehicles. Both alcoholic fermentation, conducted at controlled temperatures, and malolactic fermentation occurred naturally.

In March 2017, only the finest lots were selected for long ageing. The wine spent three full years in American oak barrels crafted in-house, with an average barrel age of 4.5 years, ensuring gentle oxygen exchange and subtle oak influence. During this period, the wine was racked six times from barrel to barrel using the traditional candlelight method — a painstaking process designed to clarify the wine naturally and separate sediment without the need for aggressive filtration. Bottling took place in July 2021, followed by further bottle ageing prior to release.

In the glass, the wine displays a clean, luminous ruby colour with a garnet rim. 

The nose is expressive and layered, revealing balsamic notes, brioche, toasted bread, vanilla, toffee and cinnamon, interwoven with black plum, wild strawberry, blackcurrant and red berry fruit. Subtle forest floor, truffle, pine needle and crushed stone nuances add depth and freshness.

The palate is full-bodied yet poised, combining concentration with clarity. Dark fruit sits at the core, framed by mineral tones, fresh bark and delicate floral accents. The acidity is vibrant and finely tuned, lending lift and definition, while the tannins are smooth, polished and gastronomic in nature. Despite its ripeness and structure, the wine retains a sense of transparency and energy, carrying through to a long, fresh and perfumed finish with lingering spice and savoury complexity.

Conclusion

The 2016 Viña Arana Gran Reserva is a masterful expression of traditional Rioja, elevated by an exceptional vintage and exemplary winemaking. Elegant rather than imposing, detailed rather than forceful, it reflects La Rioja Alta S.A.’s deep understanding of time, terroir and balance.

We award this wine a 93-point DWA score — a refined, classically styled Gran Reserva with impressive depth, freshness and long-term ageing potential.

For more reviews on La Rioja Alta S.A.’s wines check out our collection below:

• 2020 Viña Alberdi Reserva
• 2017 Viña Ardanza Reserva

This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. La Rioja Alta S.A. is imported in The Netherlands by Anfors Imperial, and available through direct sale and selected hospitality partners.

Price:                          ~€45,00

Taste Date:                 November 2024

Website:                     La Rioja Alta S.A.