La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva Viña Arana Tinto 2017

La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva Viña Arana Tinto 2017 is an outstanding, highly sophisticated Spanish red, made by the renowned La Rioja Alta winery in the prestigious Haro area of Rioja. This vintage stands out as a genuine "triumph" over the adverse weather of 2017, marked by a historic spring frost that drastically cut yields but concentrated and raised the quality of the selected grapes.

The Wine Advocate
RP 93

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

The 2017 Viña Arana Gran Reserva is the house's most classic label, made with 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano, fermented in stainless steel for 16 days and matured in American oak barrels for three years, racked every six months, the two varieties separately and then blended before bottling. It shows restrained ripeness and 14% alcohol, keeping good freshness and acidity in a challenging year. The oak is well integrated, and the wine is harmonious and serious, a triumph over the adverse conditions of the year — the year of the great frost. That year neither Viña Alberdi nor GR 890 was made, and some of the grapes meant for the 890 are here. It's polished and elegant, quite delicate and easy to understand for a Gran Reserva. 85,000 bottles were produced. The 2017 harvest was smaller. Bottled in January 2022. – Luis Gutiérrez.

Tim Atkin:
Julio Sáenz calls the 2017 Arana “an entry-level Gran Reserva”, and I don't think that's faint praise. Showing the concentration of the frost-affected 2017 vintage, this is a structured blend of Tempranillo with 5% Graciano, with a vegetal, aromatic profile, balsamic complexity, vanilla and cinnamon sweetness and plenty of supporting acidity. 2025–2038.

James Suckling:
A deep, savoury nose, with notes of vanilla, mussels, graphite, iron and black pepper. Vibrant and juicy, with a medium to full body and fine-grained tannins. Lots of energy, with a very, very long finish. 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano. Still quite young. Drink now or hold. – Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor