La Rioja Alta '904' Gran Reserva 2015

La Rioja Alta “904” Gran Reserva 2015
Silky, layered, and deeply classic, this Rioja opens with wild strawberry, red cherry, plum, blackberry, and cranberry, followed by beautiful notes of tobacco, brioche, ground coffee, caramel, cedar, and cinnamon blossom. On the palate, it is polished and graceful, with fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a long, elegant finish that makes it especially lovely with lamb, roast beef, mushroom dishes, aged Manchego, or a slow, celebratory dinner.

Key Details:

Producer: La Rioja Alta, S.A. — one of Rioja’s historic benchmark estates, founded in Haro and long known for traditional long-aged wines that combine finesse, longevity, and a strong sense of place.

Region / Appellation: Rioja DOCa, Spain. For the 2015 Gran Reserva 904, the fruit comes from vineyards in Villalba, Briñas, and Rodezno, with Graciano from the Montecillo vineyard in Fuenmayor.

Varietal: 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano.

Vintage: 2015

Style / ABV: Dry red wine; 14.5% ABV. The wine was fermented in tank, underwent malolactic fermentation, then aged for four years in American oak barrels made by the estate’s own coopers, with traditional rackings every six months before bottling.

Why It’s Special: This wine is special because “904” is one of Rioja’s iconic long-aging bottlings, produced in a style that emphasizes subtlety, elegance, finesse, and cellaring potential. The 2015 vintage was also the first for this wine in which the grapes were optically sorted berry by berry, adding another layer of precision to an already meticulous selection process.

Food Pairing: Excellent with roast lamb, braised short ribs, game, mushroom-based dishes, aged cheeses, and desserts with chocolate or red fruit. Its graceful structure and savory depth make it especially beautiful at the table.