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Red dry
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 2015 is one of the most prestigious Rioja wines, produced only from exceptionally good vintages. This red wine reflects the classic Gran Reserva style, characterized by long aging, refined structure and exceptional depth of aromas.
The wine is made from Tempranillo grapes (90%) that are at least 60 years old, harvested from three prestigious areas of Rioja Alta: Brinas, Rodezno and Villalba. The remaining part (10%) consists of Graciano grapes, which provide structure and freshness, and they are harvested exclusively from the Montecillo vineyard, located in the Fuenmayor area.
Aroma:
Very complex and elegant - dominated by dried cherries, sweet spices, vanilla, tobacco leaves and delicate sandalwood notes. Later, sweet nuances of cocoa, coffee and plum jam are revealed.
Taste:
Balanced, refined, with silky tannins, fresh acidity.
Long and elegant aftertaste with soft oak, spice and red fruit notes.
Ripe, yet lively - has long aging potential.
After careful harvesting: alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks to preserve fruitiness and freshness.
Maceration lasts as long as 78 days, allowing the wine to acquire a deep flavor and tannic structure.
The wine is then aged for as long as 4 years in used American oak barrels, which mature the tannins and enrich the flavor palette.
Serve at 16-18 °C with grilled meat, game stew, Spanish ham or sausages, semi-hard cheeses.
Very impressive complexity and width on the nose, showing lots of savoriness with mushrooms, sandalwood, cedar, sweet spices, dried oranges and tobacco. Really even and juicy on the palate with fine and very present tannins. Juicy, creamy finish lasting a minute. Really elegant and layered. It goes on and on. A real Rioja Gran Reserva and I recommend buying a case! The first vintage that La Rioja Alta labelled ‘Seleccion Especial’. So appealing now, but this will evolve well in the next 20 years.
I tasted again the 2015 Gran Reserva 904 Selección Especial, a blend of 90% Tempranillo from their vineyards in Villalba, Briñas and Rodezno, with 10% Graciano from the Montecillo Vineyard in Fuenmayor that was picked 23 days later than the Tempranillo that I had already tasted in mid-2022 before the wine was released. Time in bottle has done it some good, polishing the strong tannins that are the signature from 2015, though they are still not fully resolved, and a few more years in bottle will do it good. It's tasty, very classical, balanced and fresh. Impressive for such a powerful year. It was bottled in March 2020 after it matured in used American oak barrels for four years.
Bodegas La Rioja Alta is undoubtedly a representative of old Rioja, exceptionally valuing and cultivating the region's traditional winemaking methods. Their “Gran Reserva” wine is aged for no less than six years in barrel and a further two years in bottle before reaching the consumer, embodying patience and mastery. The high-altitude vineyards of La Rioja Alta, with their unique conditions, lend a subtlety to the wines, sometimes even reminiscent of Burgundy’s ‘Pinot Noir’. While the La Rioja Alta group also includes wineries in Galicia (Rias Baixas) and Ribera del Duero (Burgos), it is their traditional Rioja style that remains their hallmark.
Wine Style
La Rioja Alta wines are characterized by elegance, complexity, and longevity. They reflect the harmony between Rioja terroir and traditional winemaking.
Prestigious Vineyards
La Rioja Alta manages high-altitude vineyards in the Rioja Alta region:
These unique vineyard characteristics and meticulous work in the vineyard are the foundation for the distinctive character of La Rioja Alta wines.
Aging and Drinking Window
La Rioja Alta wines are crafted for slow enjoyment. The long aging process in oak barrels and bottles imparts exceptional complexity and harmony. While these wines can be enjoyed in their youth, their true potential unfolds after many years of bottle aging. They are wines valued for their longevity and ability to improve over time.
