La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 2005 750ml

Name: La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 2005 750ml
Brand: La Rioja Alta
SKU: 879504
Price: 85.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 96 (5 reviews)

size

750ml

country

Spain

region

La Rioja

appellation

Rioja

5 Ratings

See 5 Professional Reviews

Additional vintages

2015 2011 2010 2009 2007 2005 2004 2001 2000 1998 1997

Rated 96 by Wine Advocate

The 2005 Gran Reserva 904 is a superb blend of Tempranillo from the villages of Briñas, Labastida and Villalba with 10% Graciano from Briones and Rodezno. The grapes were destemmed and crushed and fermented in stainless steel for 18 days at 25 C. Malolactic fermentation was spontaneous and lasted 38 days. These wines are marked by a long aging in used American oak barrels following the most strict Riojan tradition; four years during which time the wine was manually racked eight times. This is usually my favorite wine from La Rioja Alta and 2005 is one of its best showings, going back to the quality of the vintages of the 1950s and 60s. The nose is very balsamic with notes of camphor, hints of mint, leather and hung game wrapped around a core of cherries in liqueur. Together it is balanced, subtle, truly elegant and classical. The palate is only medium-bodied but with great concentration of flavors that are very tasty, mineral, almost salty and framed by ultra-fine tannins and smashing balance. A great classic. This wine will be released in October 2015, a full ten years after the vintage. At this quality level this is a bargain. 150,000 bottles produced. ... More details

La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 2005 750ml

Rated 96 by Wine Advocate

Rated 96 by Wine Enthusiast

#1 ENTHUSIAST 100 2016. Best of the Year 2016. One look, one whiff, one taste and you're swooning. This mature, tawny, ready-to-drink gran reserva with aromas of lemon peel, cedar and dried cherry is the epitome of elegance. A juicy, supple palate is highly approachable, while flavors of vanilla, orange peel, saffron and dried plum don't waver on the finish. Drink through 2027. (Editors' Choice)

Rated 95 by James Suckling

Aromas of pine needles, ginger, red fruits and cedar. Mushroom too, plus bark and mint. Complex. Full body, ultra fine tannins and a tangy and bright finish. Makes you want to drink it. Made from 90% tempranillo with 10% graciano from 40+ year-old vineyards in the Briñas, Labastida and Villalba. Drink or hold.

Rated 94 by Vinous Media

Bright ruby-red. Complex, intensely perfumed bouquet of candied cherry, vanilla, mocha, cured tobacco and spicecake, with a suave potpourri note becoming stronger in the glass. Offers sweet, penetrating cherry-cola and lavender pastille flavors complicated by hints of smoky minerals and candied licorice. The long, subtly tannic finish delivers noteworthy energy and focus, leaving suave spicecake and cherry liqueur notes behind.

Rated 92 by Wine Spectator

This old-school red delivers dried cherry, floral, licorice and leather flavors in a smooth texture, supported by light, firm tannins and orange peel acidity. The flavors are harmonious, the finish long and juicy. Drink now through 2020. 12,500 cases made.

WNR

Winery

The delightful ruby red colour of this Gran Reserva is indicative of its long and careful cask ageing. The brilliance of the wine allows one to appreciate its deep colour -more intense than in previous vintages- that follows the bodega's philosophy of releasing onto the market, wines with greater structure. The aroma develops and intensifies the longer the bottle is open. It is a very round and complete wine, hard to describe for the complexity of its aromas. The high level of extract and balancing touch of glycerin give the wine a silkiness on the palate. Excellent length, with a robust finish and significant but refined tannins.

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La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 2005 750ml

SKU 879504

Case Only Purchase

Long-term Pre-Arrival

$515.70

/case

$85.95

/750ml bottle

Quantity

min order 6 bottles

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Professional Ratings

Rated 96 by Wine Advocate

Rated 96 by Wine Enthusiast

Rated 95 by James Suckling

Rated 94 by Vinous Media

Rated 92 by Wine Spectator

Winery

Product Details

size

750ml

country

Spain

region

La Rioja

appellation

Rioja

Additional vintages

2015 2011 2010 2009 2007 2005 2004 2001 2000 1998 1997

Overview

Varietal: Tempranillo

There are plenty of notable native Spanish grapes which have made a big impression on the wine world at large, but none are as renowned or as widely loved as the Tempranillo varietal. This black skinned grape has been used for wine making for centuries, with several ancient civilizations noticing the fact that it is highly versatile and holds some delicious flavors and aromas, perfect for those looking for a powerful yet elegant grape for their wines. Tempranillo often causes winemakers some trouble, however, as it is highly susceptible to many diseases. Despite this, plenty continue to persevere with this varietal, as it is perfect for producing delicious and complex single variety and blended wines, packed full of classic Spanish flavors and plenty of aromatic and intense surprises.

Region: La Rioja

La Rioja is by far the most famous wine region of Spain, and remains one of the world's great wine producing regions, consistently offering deep, complex red wines of character and distinction, partly due to the fact that La Rioja benefits from excellent soils, rich in minerals and nutrients, and plenty of sunshine. The climatic conditions allow the fine grape varietals to reach full ripeness and express plenty of the best features of their terroir, making La Rioja wines some of the most interesting to have ever come out of Europe. The Cantabrian mountains to the north provide the perfect shelter from the colder, wetter influences of the Atlantic oceans, and in the beloved vineyards of La Rioja, wineries have been cultivating exceedingly flavorful Tempranillo grapes for generations for the inclusion in their fine single variety and blended wines.

Country: Spain

Ever since the Phoenicians and Romans brought their knowledge of vine cultivation to Spanish soils, the country's culture has grown alongside wine production, with wine being a vital part of Spanish identity and Spanish traditions. Each region of Spain has a wine quite distinct from the others, and it is produced by smallholders and families as much as it is by large companies and established wineries. From the relatively mild and lush regions of La Rioja to the arid plateaus that surround Madrid, grapes are grown in abundance for the now booming Spanish wine industry, and new laws and regulations have recently been put in place to keep the country's standards high. By combining traditional practices with modern technology, Spanish wineries are continuing to produce distinctive wines of great character, flavor and aroma, with the focus shifting in recent decades to quality over quantity.

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