La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1964

Wine: La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1964

Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano, 10% Viura
ABV: 12.5%
Viticulture

A portion of the Tempranillo is sourced from the estate's oldest vineyards in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, primarily within the municipalities of Ollauri, Rodezno, and Cenicero. The Mazuelo and Graciano components come from the Melchorón I and II estates in Briones and Rodezno. A small percentage of the blend was purchased from local growers following a rigorous selection of the finest plots, contingent upon reaching a minimum of 12% potential alcohol and with a strict "no white grape" policy for those specific parcels.
Winemaking

Meticulous grape selection upon arrival. The wine spent 12 months in the winery’s foundational centennial oak vats (grey wood) to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It was then aged in American oak barrels for a minimum of 72 months, undergoing a total of 9 manual rackings (trasiegas) to remove sediment and allow for gentle aeration. Bottled in December 1971. Aged in the bottle for a minimum of 42 months prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Brownish-ruby with medium-high depth (capa); significantly darker than other 904 vintages from the same decade. It shows pomegranate and orange highlights—bright, pristine, and luminous—with no trace of sediment. The rim is ochre-toned and narrow, contrasting sharply with the meniscus.

 

Nose: Upon opening, there is an immediate certainty of being before a wine at its absolute peak—that rare, elusive moment of plenitude. Deep and powerful, complex, perfumed, and expressive, it is packed with spicy details. It initially opens with an elegant array of scrubland and balsamic notes (sage, fenugreek, rosemary, camphor), giving way to a trail of caramelized sugar, charcoal, creamy toasted nuances, clove, bay leaf, and high-quality mature fruit: candied fruit, cherries, bitter orange marmalade, and macerated plums. It offers a refined expression of classic aging, with oscillating hints of petals, withered flowers, seasoned wood, leather, and a sensational potpourri of spices. Enormous concentration and intensity; it never falters.

 

Palate: Absolutely devastating on the palate. Muscular, mature, and expansive—it fills every corner of the mouth. It possesses an incredibly complex hint of sweetness that balances its torrent of energy, soaring acidity, firm and lively tannins, and concentrated red fruit. Savory, with a certain touch of austerity. It carries such life and structure that it commands respect. It will still require years of bottle age to gain those final fractions that lead to perfection. It is well on its way!

 

Personal Score: 98
Tasting Group Score: 99