904 Gran Reserva 2016 | La Rioja Alta

Name: 904 Gran Reserva 2016 | La Rioja Alta
Brand: La Rioja Alta
SKU: 896
Price: 74.85 EUR
Availability: InStock

74.85 €

904 Gran Reserva 2016 | La Rioja Alta

74.85 €

Quantity :

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Tempranillo from vineyards over 60 years old located in Briñas, Labastida, and Villalba, and Graciano from the Montecillo vineyard, located in the municipality of Fuenmayor. 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano.

Hand-harvested in crates, taken to the winery in refrigerated trucks. Grapes selected at the table and alcoholic and malolactic fermentation carried out naturally. Aged for 4 years in American oak barrels of their own making, with an average age of 4.5 years. Racked using the traditional method every 6 months.

Wine Identification
The La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva is a red wine from the 2016 vintage, produced in the Rioja appellation of Spain. It is one of the most prestigious wines of this historic winery, distinguished by its specific blend and extended aging process.

Origin and Winemaking
This wine is crafted from a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. The Tempranillo grapes are sourced from vineyards over 60 years old located in the villages of Briñas, Labastida, and Villalba. The Graciano component comes exclusively from the Montecillo estate, situated in Fuenmayor. Harvesting is conducted manually using boxes, with transport to the winery via refrigerated trucks to preserve fruit integrity. Upon arrival, grapes are selected on a sorting table. Fermentation proceeds through both alcoholic and malolactic processes conducted naturally.

The defining characteristic of the 904 Gran Reserva lies in its aging regimen. The wine matures for four years in American oak barrels manufactured by La Rioja Alta itself. These barrels have an average age of 4.5 years, ensuring a subtle influence that complements rather than overwhelms the fruit. During this period, the wine undergoes racking (trasiegos) every six months using traditional methods to maintain clarity and stability before bottling.

Tasting Profile
The combination of old-vine Tempranillo from multiple Rioja sub-regions and a minority of Graciano from Montecillo suggests a wine with deep complexity. The extended four-year aging in proprietary American oak implies significant integration of vanilla, spice, and toasted notes, typical of high-quality Gran Reservas. The natural fermentation and careful selection process point to a structured yet refined palate.

Critical Reception
The 2016 vintage has received exceptional acclaim from major critics:
James Suckling awarded it 97 points.
Guía Peñín rated it 96 points.
The Wine Advocate (Parker) gave it 96 points.
Tim Atkin scored it 95 points.

Overall Character
The La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 2016 stands as a benchmark for traditional Rioja winemaking. Its reputation is built on the synergy between ancient vineyards, specific terroirs like Montecillo, and rigorous, time-honored production techniques. The consensus among critics highlights its excellence, marking it as a wine of significant depth and elegance.

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Learn more about La Rioja Alta

The two gran reserva wines of the house are called 890 and 904, and they are not codes: they are dates with the first digit removed. On 10 July 1890, five Basque and Riojan growers set up the Sociedad Vinícola de la Rioja Alta in the Barrio de la Estación in Haro, which the following year became La Rioja Alta. And in 1904 Alfredo Ardanza merged his own winery into the company.

The five founders were Daniel-Alfredo Ardanza y Sánchez, Saturnina García Cid y Gárete, Dionisio del Prado y Lablanca, Felipe Puig de la Bellacasa y Herrán, and Mariano Lacorte Tapia. One of them was a woman, which in 1890 was not common. The Ardanza name, which appears both in that list and in the merger, ended up on the house's best-known label, Viña Ardanza.

The winery has its own cooperage: it makes its American oak barrels itself.

The 904 is 90% Tempranillo from vines over sixty years old in Briñas, Labastida and Villalba, and 10% Graciano from the Montecillo vineyard, in Fuenmayor. It is picked by hand into crates that arrive at the winery refrigerated, sorted on a table, and both fermentations start on their own. It ages four years in those own barrels, averaging four and a half years old, with racking by the traditional method every six months.

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