A wonderfully classic, soft and enticing gran reserva that shows off the potential of this category. It offers spicy notes and red berry fruit with grippy tannins that provide structure. The balanced acidity drives the wine, which finishes with Rioja red berry fruity and red pepper. Very classy: un vino de siempre. Sourced from a number of top vineyards in Laguardia and Elciego, Rioja Alavesa, all small sites between 500m and 650m with vines aged more than 35 years. 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano, fermented in stainless steel tanks with native yeasts, aged for a minimum of 24 months in new and second-use French and American oak barrels, then left for a minimum period of three years in bottle before release.

The 2017 Viña Real Gran Reserva is a classical Rioja Alavesa blend of 95% Tempranillo with 5% Graciano from their own vineyards. It matured in new and used barrels for two years and was racked every four months and no less than three in bottle. It has 13.95% alcohol, a pH of 3.54 and six grams of acidity. This is a textbook Gran Reserva; perhaps this year it shows a faster evolution, with notes of olives, with hints of mint, ripe but with acidity. It has a polished palate with fine-grained tannins and a very pleasant tactile sensation. It's ready but should also last. 30,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2020.