Akutain Reserva is a beautifully traditional yet vibrant Rioja Reserva with a dark, savoury personality and striking freshness. Initially slightly wild and earthy on opening, the wine quickly unfolds into layers of dry spice, dark cherry, tobacco, cedar and smoky black fruit, all lifted by really refreshing acidity that keeps the palate energetic and alive. Made predominantly from Tempranillo with small amounts of Garnacha and the rare Maturano grape, this non-filtered Rioja has incredible depth and structure thanks to the thick-skinned grapes produced in the cooler climate around Haro. Aged in a combination of 70% American oak and 30% French oak, the wine balances classic Rioja warmth and spice with precision, tension and a long, savoury finish. Akutain is a tiny family-run Rioja producer led by Jean, whose family purchased the land in 1978 before planting the vineyards over 40 years ago. Located just west of Haro at a unique meeting point between Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, the vineyards benefit from long, slow ripening cycles that build complexity, structure and freshness in the grapes. While 80% of grapes grown in Rioja are sold on to large wineries or co-operatives, Akutain remains one of the small number of estates growing and bottling its own fruit, with just 7 hectares under vine and the freedom to take risks with harvest dates and winemaking decisions. The wines are made traditionally with gentle micro-oxygenation through oak ageing, multiple rackings instead of filtration or fining, and a philosophy that allows each vineyard and vintage to speak clearly through the wine.
