La Rioja Alta S.A. 904 Rioja Gran Reserva 2016
La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904 is a legendary Rioja red wine and a true icon of Spanish winemaking, originally created to commemorate a historic 1904 winery merger that shaped the modern estate. Crafted primarily from Tempranillo with a supporting measure of Graciano, the grapes are carefully sourced from older vines in the elevated villages of Briñas, Labastida, and Villalba to ensure brilliant natural freshness. The winemaking team operates with absolute patience to achieve the classic Rioja style that has made the estate world-famous. The wine spends four full years maturing in bespoke American oak barrels, built by hand in their own cooperage. Relying on traditional cellar methods, it is manually racked by candlelight every six months. This unhurried approach naturally softens the tannins and builds a remarkably silky texture before the wine is finally laid down in the bottle to rest. Pouring a bright ruby red, the glass opens with an intense perfume of wild strawberry, red cherry, and crushed blackberry. As it breathes, it reveals deeply savoury layers of sweet tobacco, ground coffee, cedar, and warming cinnamon. On the palate, it is incredibly elegant and beautifully balanced, finishing with a remarkably long, polished length. It is an exceptional Spanish red wine with serious cellaring potential, pairing perfectly with roasted lamb or rich game dishes.
