La Rioja Alta S.A. – 2020 Viña Alberdi Reserva

La Rioja Alta S.A. – 2020 Viña Alberdi Reserva.

A classically styled yet finely polished Rioja Reserva that captures the house style of La Rioja Alta S.A. with remarkable clarity. Viña Alberdi has long served as the estate’s calling card: traditionally raised, but today defined by greater precision, freshness, and balance. The 2020 vintage delivers elegance, vibrant fruit, and beautifully integrated oak — a Rioja that offers immediate charm without sacrificing depth.

About the Winery

Founded in 1890 in Haro, La Rioja Alta S.A. stands among the most historic and respected producers in Rioja. The winery is renowned for its uncompromising quality standards and its own cooperage, where American oak barrels are crafted in-house. These barrels are central to the estate’s identity, enabling long, controlled ageing that shapes the wines with subtle oxidative complexity rather than overt woodiness.

The focus lies on old-vine Tempranillo in Rioja Alta, sourced from high-altitude, limestone-rich vineyards around Rodezno and Labastida. The cooler climate of this subzone lends natural acidity and finesse. Viña Alberdi is aged for approximately two years in American oak, with regular racking carried out in the traditional way to refine texture and clarity.

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 2020 Viña Alberdi Reserva opens with a classic Rioja bouquet: ripe cherry, red plum and raspberry, framed by vanilla, coconut and sweet baking spices, alongside hints of tobacco leaf and cedar. With air, further layers emerge — dried orange peel, cinnamon and a subtle balsamic lift.

On the palate, the wine is notably fresh and poised. The fruit profile is bright and precise, led by red berries and cherry, followed by creamy oak tones, nutmeg and gentle spice. The tannins are finely grained and silky, while the lively acidity brings tension and length. The finish is long and harmonious, with a light smoky edge and lingering savoury nuance.

Where some earlier vintages leaned more heavily on oak, the 2020 shows a more transparent balance between fruit and maturation. It is already highly enjoyable but has the structure to develop gracefully over the next five to eight years.

Conclusion

The 2020 Viña Alberdi Reserva once again confirms why La Rioja Alta S.A. remains a benchmark for classic Rioja. A wine that combines tradition with modern finesse: refined, approachable and quietly complex.

We award this wine a 91-point DWA score — a beautifully balanced Reserva offering both immediate pleasure and the promise of further evolution.

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:                          €22,50

Taste Date:                 November 2024

Website:                     La Rioja Alta S.A.