La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 Seleccion Especial 2015

La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904 Seleccion Especial, Rioja, Spain, 2015

Grapes: 90% Tempranillo (Villalba, Briñas and Rodezno vineyards) and 10% Graciano (Montecillo vineyard in Fuenmayor), hand picked, berry selection with optical sorting, 4 years' ageing in used American oak barrels

Producer Tasting Note:

Medium-high robe with an elegant garnet rim. Great aromatic complexity, with notes of wild strawberry, red cherry, plum, blackberry and cranberry combined with aromas of tobacco, brioche, ground coffee, caramel, cedar and cinnamon blossom. The alcohol and acidity are elegantly balanced on the palate and its polished, gentle tannins and freshness provide a smooth and refined mouthfeel. Fine, delicate and very long aftertaste, that will continue to be rounded with time in the bottle, making this new Gran Reserva 904 a wine with great cellaring potential.

Critics' Tasting Note:

"Colour: dark cherry, garnet edge, Aroma: ripe fruit, candied fruit, woodwork, tobacco, sweet spices, wild herbs, lactic, Mouth: spicy, ripe tannins, long, elegant"  97/100 points, Guia Penin (Spain), July 2021

Also rated 98/100 points by James Suckling ("Top 100 World Wine", 2023),

96/100 points by Tim Atkin MW (Jan 2024) and 95/100 points by Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate (July 2022).

Especially recommended with all kinds of meat and stews, seasoned fish and desserts with chocolate or red fruit toppings. Perfect as an after-dinner drink. Enjoy over the next 10 years.