#2 on Hi-Time's Top Spanish Wines of 2024
For a luxurious red with suave, seamless textures and the evolved bouquet of old-school Spain, it's hard to beat the 2015 vintage of this classic Rioja! La Rioja Alta is a historic winery for the region, having bottled their own wine since 1890, but its popularity today is greater than ever thanks to a well-honed lineup that offers great value across the board! Created to commemorate the merger with the Ardanza estate in 1904, the "904" Gran Reserva Rioja stands out as one of the most seductive Spanish reds you can find.
Because the wine can take it, La Rioja Alta does an extra-long, 4-year aging in American oak barrels (which are made in-house). It's driven by Rioja's lithe, soft-red-fruited Tempranillo (red plum, strawberry), complemented by the Basque native, Graciano, a more fragrant grape that shows itself as a touch of extra richness at the core, and a flavor boost of ripe dark fruits (mulberry and black plum) and spices. Long oak aging takes the naturally suave textures to another level, adding a creaminess to the edges, and marries aromas into a swirl of and gourmand notes: forest floor (mushrooms, soft earth), cured tobacco, caramelization, cedar and creamy vanilla. The wine is generous and suave, but doesn't lose its old-world sensibilities thanks to its warming inner brightness and balanced, velvet mouthfeel. This makes it a fantastic wine to enjoy either on its own, or with dishes like aged cheeses and fig preserves, rack of lamb, prime rib with a coffee rub, and hearty stews!
JAMES SUCKLING 97 POINTS - "A perfumed nose of plums, mulberries, mushrooms, caramel, sweet tobacco and sweet spices. Full-bodied with velvety, fine tannins and lively acidity. Balanced and supple with a creamy texture. Delicate and precise with a long, polished finish."
For a luxurious red with suave, seamless textures and the evolved bouquet of old-school Spain, it's hard to beat the 2015 vintage of this classic Rioja! La Rioja Alta is a historic winery for the region, having bottled their own wine since 1890, but its popularity today is greater than ever thanks to a well-honed lineup that offers great value across the board! Created to commemorate the merger with the Ardanza estate in 1904, the "904" Gran Reserva Rioja stands out as one of the most seductive Spanish reds you can find.
Because the wine can take it, La Rioja Alta does an extra-long, 4-year aging in American oak barrels (which are made in-house). It's driven by Rioja's lithe, soft-red-fruited Tempranillo (red plum, strawberry), complemented by the Basque native, Graciano, a more fragrant grape that shows itself as a touch of extra richness at the core, and a flavor boost of ripe dark fruits (mulberry and black plum) and spices. Long oak aging takes the naturally suave textures to another level, adding a creaminess to the edges, and marries aromas into a swirl of
JAMES SUCKLING 97 POINTS - "A perfumed nose of plums, mulberries, mushrooms, caramel, sweet tobacco and sweet spices. Full-bodied with velvety, fine tannins and lively acidity. Balanced and supple with a creamy texture. Delicate and precise with a long, polished finish."
Overall Rating
5 out of 5 Based on 1 Review
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16th Mar 2022
2011 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904
Still "young," but terrific. Complex, concentrated, and with great fruit. Everything I expect from a 904.
