Aster Reserva
⏳ Drinking Window
2025 - 2035
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted milk-fed lamb (lechazo), grilled ribeye steak, and aged sheep's milk cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Established in the late 20th century, Bodegas Áster represents the prestigious La Rioja Alta, S.A.'s venture into the heart of Ribera del Duero, specifically in the prized terroir of Anguix, Burgos. Named after a delicate wildflower that blooms during the autumn harvest, Áster crafts its Reserva exclusively from Tinta del País (Tempranillo) grown at high-altitude vineyards situated at nearly 830 meters above sea level. This extreme continental climate, marked by dramatic diurnal temperature shifts, yields grapes of incredible concentration and balanced acidity. The wine undergoes traditional fermentation followed by extensive aging in French oak barrels, blending the robust, muscular power of Ribera del Duero with the hallmark elegance, silky texture, and meticulous craftsmanship of its historic Riojan parent winery.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1890 in Haro's iconic Barrio de la Estación by five Basque and Riojan families, La Rioja Alta S.A. stands as an archetype of classical Spanish viticulture. Operating extensive estate holdings across Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa—complemented by satellites Torre de Oña in Páganos, Áster in Ribera del Duero, and Lagar de Cervera in Rías Baixas—the estate relies upon calcareous-clay and alluvial soils tempered by Atlantic and continental microclimates. The viticultural approach prioritizes meticulous canopy management, estate-grown fruit, and low-impact sustainable husbandry. In the cellar, the bodega is renowned for its in-house cooperage of seasoned American oak, manual barrel racking by candlelight every six months, and remarkably patient oxidative maturation. The resulting wines—exemplified by Viña Ardanza, Viña Arana, and the majestic Gran Reserva 890 and 904—display exceptional longevity, savory complexity, fine-grained tannins, and vibrant Atlantic freshness.
🍇 Grapes
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino min 75%), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec