Torre de Ona Reserva 2014

Torre de Oña Reserva 2014 comes from a single estate in Rioja Alavesa, the northernmost subzone of Rioja known for its calcareous clay soils and tempranillo's finest expression. Founded in 1987 as a departure from the region's traditional shipping-house model, the 50-hectare bodega was acquired by La Rioja Alta S.A. in 1995, bringing the resources of one of Rioja's most respected houses to a focused, village-level project. This reserva spent the minimum 36 months aging required by DO Rioja law—part in American oak, part in French—before an additional year in bottle before release, meaning the 2014 vintage reached the market with seven years of development already behind it. The estate sits in Laguardia, a medieval hilltop town in Rioja Alavesa where the Cantabrian Mountains shield vineyards from Atlantic storms and the Ebro River moderates summer heat. Torre de Oña's 50 hectares are farmed as a contiguous plot, a rarity in Rioja where most producers source fruit from multiple growers across appellations. The winery selects only the best parcels within the estate for the reserva bottling, prioritizing old-vine tempranillo with natural concentration and the structure to handle extended oak aging. La Rioja Alta's acquisition brought modern temperature-controlled fermentation and a more precise barrel program, but the estate's identity—terroir-driven, single-origin Rioja Alavesa—remains the guiding principle. The 2014 vintage in Rioja was marked by a cool, even growing season and a dry September that allowed for slow, complete phenolic ripening. Expect dark cherry, leather, tobacco leaf, and the vanilla and coconut notes American oak imparts, softened by bottle age into a seamless, tertiary profile. The wine has the structure to pair with grilled lamb chops, aged Manchego, or roasted duck, but it's approachable enough now for a weeknight braise or mushroom risotto. Decant for 30 minutes to let the oak integrate fully. This is reserva Rioja in its classic Lincoln Park form: structured, food-friendly, built for the table rather than the trophy shelf. Torre de Oña Reserva 2014 is available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.