La Rioja Alta Rioja 904 Grand Reserva 2004

*96 pts Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate (Dec 2013):* 

The 2004 Gran Reserva 904 is Tempranillo from Brinas, Labastida and Villalba balanced with 10% Graciano from Briones and Rodezno. The grapes were fermented and macerated in inox vats for 14 days at 28º C, and malolactic fermentation lasted 28 days. The wine aged for 4 years in used American oak barrels averaging 4 years old, during which time it was manually racked 8 times. This 2004, from a superb vintage shows a beautiful light red color with a brick rim and a superb nose redolent of balsamic woods, spices, leather, well-hung meat, incense and truffles. The light to medium-bodied palate shows fully resolved tannins, great acidity and pure, pungent flavors that linger in the mouth forever and that can only be Rioja. This is a wine to smell over and over again. It might sound like an exaggeration, but this wine is still too young and you should wait a little bit and drink the superb 2001 vintage which should still be available on the market while this one matures in bottle. At this quality level the price is superb especially considering that the wine is being released 10 years after the vintage. Drink 2016-2024.

18 pts Jancis Robinson MW (Jun 2014):

From an 'Excellent' vintage. 90% Tempranillo and 10% particularly successful Graciano from their own vineyards at least 40 years old in Briñas, Labastida and Villalba. Each plot is vinified separately. Aged for four years in four-year-old American casks. Manual racking 'by candlelight'(!) every six months. Barrel selection. Bottled February 2009.

Mid ruby. Intense strawberry fruit with very lively well-hung game notes. Super clean and fresh. Lovely energy and directness. Tannins receding but perceptible. Lots of life ahead of this. Very gentle finish. Real lift and briskness. Not a hint of soupiness! Like a particularly bright jewel.