Tasting:
Lively, medium depth garnet red withan intense pink rim. The nose stands out for the intensity of fresh aromas of ripe red fruit, wild strawberries, currants and raspberries, against a balsamic background with notes of vanilla, toasted caramel, bakery, coffee and sweet mints. Warm aromatic entry, with good structure and balance and soft, amiable tannins. The aromatic harmony persists on the finish, with marked freshness and balance. Long in the mouth, it offers a magnificent expression of classic ageing.
Pairing:
Viña Alberdi is characterised by a notable food-pairing versatility. It is an ideal companion to appetisers, snacks and barbecues, perfect with rice, pastas and stews, and great with lightly-grilled meat and fish.
A classic and tightly knit Rioja with dried berry, spice and cedar character on the nose and palate. Medium body, very fine tannins and a flavorful finish. Acidity carries the wine and then the tannins. Gorgeous. Drink now. - James Suckling 94 Points
There’s a velvety, red-fruited wine behind all the initial oak blackness, yielding notes of forest floor as the wine softens up with air. It remains tight in the middle, needing a grilled sirloin to bring out its complexity. - Wine & Spirits Magazine 91 Points
The entry-level 2011 Vina Alberdi is a blend of Tempranillo from different vineyards with a classical fermentation. The grapes are destemmed and crushed in stainless steel followed by malolactic and aging in new and used American oak barrels for two years. There are some toasted aromas of sesame and sunflower seeds, somehow yeasty, with a bit of a reductive profile that I like very much. They have introduced some changes in the vinification, and since 2010 the grapes have been sourced 100% from their own vineyards. With time, more balsamic notes appear. The palate is medium-bodied with tasty flavors, dusty tannins and moderate acidity. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2014. - Robert Parker 90 Points
