97/100 Decanter

"Over the past decade, Bodega Hacienda López de Haro has become one of Rioja’s rising stars, a producer capable of making both consistently high-quality, high-volume brands and smaller-scale ‘artisanal’ bottlings such as this Gran Reserva Rosado. It’s a blend of 60% Viura and 40% Garnacha, macerated for 24-48 hours before fermentation in stainless steel. The wine was then matured for four years in French and Eastern European oak barriques, mostly new. It spent a further five years in bottle before release. David Williams: Complex interplay of polished wood, cherry and rosehip, and macadamia nuts, a touch of sweet green olive and fennel, baked strawberry: just fascinating. Very savoury and satisfying, with lovely glide and a silky texture. Matthew Forster MW: Brick red, attenuated colour, firm savoury oak aromas. Concentrated stewed plum fruit, with rose petal and caramel on the finish. Very complete. Diana Rollan: Intense and complex, oxidative style. Notes of dried cranberry, orange zest and sandalwood. Textured, elegant and vibrant, with a subtle saline finish. Superb."

Julia Harding on jancisrobinson.com

17.5/20

"Deep coppery pink. Aromas as dramatic as the colour: rich notes of orange-skinned plums and spiced apricots (though no impression of sweetness). A touch of dried grasses. In the mouth, this is fabulous, especially for the price. Mouth-wateringly fresh, layers and layers of flavour and just the right amount of tannic structure (more than I expected, perhaps more from the oak than from the maceration) for the wine to continue to age well, though it is delicious now. Firm, persistent and a style it is hard to find outside Rioja. Great length. A wine to savour at the table. VGV".