La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1995

Wine: La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1995

Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano
ABV: 12.5%
Viticulture

The Tempranillo is sourced from the estate's oldest vineyards in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, primarily within the municipalities of Briñas, Labastida, and Villalba. The remaining grapes originate from the Melchorón I and II estates in Briones and Rodezno. 

Winemaking

Alcoholic fermentation lasted 12 days, with devatting (descube) five days later. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in stainless steel tanks over 35 days. In June 1996, the wines were transferred to seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels for 49 months of aging, being racked using the traditional "barrel-to-barrel" method every 6 months. Lightly filtered before bottling in July 2000.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Bright, pristine reddish-ruby with medium depth. It shows pomegranate and orange highlights with a broad copper rim that shows little distinction from the meniscus.

 

Nose: A monumental wine—serious, well-settled, and possessing an intense and highly expressive aromatic range. It is rich with nuances of English tobacco, Virginia pipe tobacco, cigar humidors, and orange molasses, alongside hints of fine wood, cedar, toasted cocoa, and aromatic coffee. Soft, perfumed, and very elegant, it features a well-executed classic aging that gives way to a powerful varietal expression: a fragrant Tempranillo with floral flashes of petals and dried flowers, and concentrated red fruit that is slightly liqueur-like and spicy.

 

Palate: Refined on the palate, filled with spicy red fruit; fresh, lively, and medium-bodied. It features a marked citrus-driven acidity and a high-quality balsamic edge (star anise, sage). Overall, it is very similar to the 1994 vintage. These are two wines sculpted from the same stone—solid, sturdy, structured, and bursting with energy. They will require significant bottle age to continue polishing, but they possess everything needed to keep growing. This 904 is an excellent wine from an excellent harvest. A guaranteed investment to buy by the case and cellar.

 

Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 91