Wine: La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1973Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and Graciano
ABV: 12.5%
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and Graciano
ABV: 12.5%
Viticulture
A portion of the Tempranillo is sourced from the estate's oldest vineyards in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, primarily from the municipalities of Ollauri, Rodezno, and Cenicero. The Mazuelo and Graciano come from the Melchorón I and II estates in Briones and Rodezno. A small part of the blend was purchased from local growers’ finest plots (majuelos), under strict selection criteria: no white grape blending and a natural sugar content sufficient to reach a minimum of 12% alcohol.
A portion of the Tempranillo is sourced from the estate's oldest vineyards in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, primarily from the municipalities of Ollauri, Rodezno, and Cenicero. The Mazuelo and Graciano come from the Melchorón I and II estates in Briones and Rodezno. A small part of the blend was purchased from local growers’ finest plots (majuelos), under strict selection criteria: no white grape blending and a natural sugar content sufficient to reach a minimum of 12% alcohol.
Winemaking
Rigorous grape selection upon arrival at the winery. The wine spent 8 to 10 months in the winery’s foundational century-old large oak vats (of "grey wood"), where it completed malolactic fermentation and stabilized. It was aged for a minimum of 72 months in seasoned American oak barrels with an average age of 18 to 22 years. A total of 12 manual rackings were performed to remove sediment and allow for gentle aeration. Bottled in mid-1980, followed by a minimum of 42 months of bottle aging prior to its commercial release.
Rigorous grape selection upon arrival at the winery. The wine spent 8 to 10 months in the winery’s foundational century-old large oak vats (of "grey wood"), where it completed malolactic fermentation and stabilized. It was aged for a minimum of 72 months in seasoned American oak barrels with an average age of 18 to 22 years. A total of 12 manual rackings were performed to remove sediment and allow for gentle aeration. Bottled in mid-1980, followed by a minimum of 42 months of bottle aging prior to its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Displays significant color stability and a slightly higher intensity
than preceding vintages. Ruby-garnet of medium depth, slightly cloudy,
with reddish and amber highlights. It features an orange rim and very
fine, persistent legs.
Nose:
Open, clean, and expressive with honest aromas and a restrained
classical aging profile. Earthy and subtly balsamic (green tea, bay
leaf, fig leaves, sage), with hints of dried herbs and botanicals.
Toasted notes of charcoal, cocoa powder, ash, and licorice twists
emerge. Upon aeration, it gains power, revealing elegant smoky notes and
spices (star anise, clove), alongside black pepper, leaf litter, wet
earth, and morels. Complex, mature, and highly elegant.
Palate:
Refined and vibrant, with excellent acidity and polished yet firm and
lively tannins. Smooth and fresh, it offers flashes of citrus and a
high-quality hint of sweetness. The overall impression is one of
elegance and roundness found only in the finest harvests. An agile,
approachable, and very gratifying red. Yet another example of the
excellent wines produced in the 1973 vintage.
Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 92
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