Hacienda López de Haro, Riojas of outstanding

We have reasons to celebrate! Robert Parker's list of wines has already been published in his magazine: The Wine Advocate, and the Hacienda López de Haro collection of wines by Bodega Classica have passed with great marks. Both the Reserva and Crianza have received a high distinction, which has made us extremely happy. If you know about the world of wine, even a bit, you are already aware that Parker's opinion (and the opinion of those that taste for him) has great weight in the international market, especially in the United States. Therefore, receiving these marks, especially after being tasted for the first time, makes us feel like as if we had “vini, vidi, vinci”. Neal Martin, who Parker has entrusted with tasting Spanish wines after Jay Miller's exit of the TWA, was at the DOC Rioja a few months ago. While here, he tasted over 700 wines, and the points and notes regarding the tastings have just been published in copy number 202 of his magazine, which hit the stands on Saturday. As we have mentioned above, it is the first time that a taster working with Parker has tried our Rioja wines, and we are happy to unveil that Hacienda López de Haro Reserva has received 92 points and Hacienda López de Haro Crianza 91. These are great marks, especially when considering that this is the first time they have tasted these wines. Moreover, if you see the wines that have received the same points, you will realise that most of them are more expensive. 10 Rioja Crianzas have been awarded 91 points, including ours, and they all are more expensive than the HLH. Only two Crianzas have obtained more than 91 points, but their price is also considerably higher. The same occurs with the Reserva, there are a few that are around the same price, but most of the Reservas that have received 92 points, like ours, our considerably more expensive than Hacienda López de Haro (we are always referring to the prices in the American market).

Neal Martin tasting notes: "The 2008 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Crianza is a blend of 93% Tempranillo and 7% Garnacha aged for 18 months in French and American oak. It has a mellow bouquet of dried herbs, terracotta tiles and dusky black fruit that is very well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin: tart red berried fruit, laced with tobacco and dried herbs on the dry, crisp finish. This is a superb classical Rioja Crianza." "The 2005 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and 5% Garnacha aged for 20 months in French and American oak. It has a beautiful, rounded, sensual bouquet with hints of over-ripe Satsuma and gravel. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of piquancy on the entry. It has crisp acidity and taut tannins on the dry, dusky finish but it remains extremely well-focused." We can safely say that, as far as Riojas are concerned, the Hacienda López de Haro collection as a whole is the best valued by Robert Parker's magazine according to price  and quality, which has made the entire Vintae team extremely happy. Of course, we would like to thank the technical team, oenologists, engineers, staff at the winery...and, indeed, we will toast with a good glass of Hacienda López de Haro. Cheers!