Aster Finca El Otero
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release, though exceptional vintages can easily cellar for two decades.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Traditional Spanish roast suckling lamb (lechazo), grilled prime ribeye steak, and aged sheep's milk cheeses such as Manchego.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
La Rioja Alta, S.A., renowned for its historic Rioja estates, ventured into the rugged landscapes of Ribera del Duero in 1991, establishing Bodegas Aster in the premium subregion of Anguix. Finca El Otero represents the absolute pinnacle of this project. Sourced from a single, low-yielding vineyard perched at an altitude of 830 meters, the 100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo) vines struggle in poor, clay-loam soils under extreme continental conditions. This natural adversity yields grapes of extraordinary concentration and character. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels, followed by 16 months of aging in the same wood. The result is a masterful expression of Ribera del Duero, combining the muscular power and dark-fruit intensity of the region with the signature elegance, balance, and meticulous craftsmanship for which La Rioja Alta is globally celebrated.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1890 by five Basque and Riojan families in the historic Barrio de la Estación of Haro, La Rioja Alta, S.A. stands as one of the ultimate benchmarks of traditional Rioja winemaking. The estate is globally renowned for its uncompromising dedication to long-term oak aging, maintaining an in-house cooperage to craft American oak barrels that impart its signature vanilla and spice character. While deeply rooted in Haro, the group has expanded its viticultural footprint to include exceptional estates in Ribera del Duero and Rías Baixas. Their legendary portfolio, headlined by the iconic Gran Reserva 890, Gran Reserva 904, and Viña Ardanza, represents the pinnacle of elegance, complexity, and extraordinary aging potential.