La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 2005 Magnum
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SGD 350.00
SGD 350.00
per item
Vintage: 2005
Producer: La Rioja Alta
Varietal: Tempranillo
Appellation: Rioja
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Drinking Window: 2018-2024
Scores (if you care about):: 96/100 RobertParker.com
96/100 Wine Enthusiast, 95/100 James Suckling
Producer: La Rioja Alta
Varietal: Tempranillo
Appellation: Rioja
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Drinking Window: 2018-2024
Scores (if you care about):: 96/100 RobertParker.com
96/100 Wine Enthusiast, 95/100 James Suckling
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Excellence runs in this historical family of Riojas.🏅🏆@lariojaaltasa
904 is an adaptation and a star successor of the original 1904 representing the year the winery came into being with the merger of La Rioja Alta & Ardanza Winery.
Rioja, from Northern Spain 🇪🇸 has a few sub-regions with Rioja Alta, the most famous. Known for wines of elegance, La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano.
Gran Reservas by law must be aged for five years, at least two of those years in oak. La Rioja goes some considerable distance beyond this minimum by spending 4 yrs in barrels and another 5 in bottle before these are released.
Apart from their bottles, I personally find their passion to improve every aspect of wine making is unparalleled.
From spending heavily on R&D to modernise the wineries, to use of optical guided lasers for sorting berries to actually creating their own barrels, directly importing oak that is specially selected in the United States and naturally dried on the estate in Spain, its like the winery doesn't want to leave any opportunity to improve where they can.
As Dorothy J Gaiter, acclaimed journalist and wine writer for New York Times wrote, "Riojas in great years can take at least 15 years to hit their stride, becoming heavenly, structured wines of rich earth, cherry-raspberry-like fruit, hints of chocolate, vanilla and spice, taut acidity, and gracious tannins. The oak and fruit in full harmony. They are ready to drink when released but can stay in your cellar for years, if you can keep your hands off them."
Tasting Notes & Reviews
"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." 96/100, Luis Gutiérrez, Robertparker.com Apr 2015
"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 Brinas, Labastida and Villalba. Drink or hold." 95/100, James Suckling, Mar 2020
904 is an adaptation and a star successor of the original 1904 representing the year the winery came into being with the merger of La Rioja Alta & Ardanza Winery.
Rioja, from Northern Spain 🇪🇸 has a few sub-regions with Rioja Alta, the most famous. Known for wines of elegance, La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano.
Gran Reservas by law must be aged for five years, at least two of those years in oak. La Rioja goes some considerable distance beyond this minimum by spending 4 yrs in barrels and another 5 in bottle before these are released.
Apart from their bottles, I personally find their passion to improve every aspect of wine making is unparalleled.
From spending heavily on R&D to modernise the wineries, to use of optical guided lasers for sorting berries to actually creating their own barrels, directly importing oak that is specially selected in the United States and naturally dried on the estate in Spain, its like the winery doesn't want to leave any opportunity to improve where they can.
As Dorothy J Gaiter, acclaimed journalist and wine writer for New York Times wrote, "Riojas in great years can take at least 15 years to hit their stride, becoming heavenly, structured wines of rich earth, cherry-raspberry-like fruit, hints of chocolate, vanilla and spice, taut acidity, and gracious tannins. The oak and fruit in full harmony. They are ready to drink when released but can stay in your cellar for years, if you can keep your hands off them."
Tasting Notes & Reviews
"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." 96/100, Luis Gutiérrez, Robertparker.com Apr 2015
"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 Brinas, Labastida and Villalba. Drink or hold." 95/100, James Suckling, Mar 2020