An excellent vintage for a most traditional of Riojas
It is the epitome of traditionally-styled Rioja. Long-aging in American oak barrels has imparted smooth flavours of vanilla, clove, truffle and tobacco to the bramble, cherry and blackberry character most typical of Tempranillo. Today sees the release of the 2011 vintage of La Rioja Alta's 904 Gran Reserva, already a glory to drink. At first sip it seems deceptively mellow, yet it still has the structure to age for years; as Tempranillo is among the more naturally anti-oxidative grape varieties, it has a long cellar life ahead.
2011 was another truly superb vintage for Rioja, following on from the great 2010. It was slightly warmer than its predecessor, making the fruit that bit riper and sweeter, but the cool nights in the run-up to harvest also helped imbue the wine with a remarkable freshness. Vintages are rarely this good; there won't be another 904 until the 2015 is released.
After almost a hundred and thirty years, La Rioja Alta remains essentially a family concern, managed by descendants of five founding families who pooled resources in 1890 to found a winery. They have some exceptionally good vineyard sites at varying altitudes and in different soils, bringing balance and complexity to their wines. They incorporate the best in modern winemaking and winery hygiene, while staying entirely true to their traditional winemaking methodology. It's a rare combination. /NT
Offered subject to remaining unsold; available June 2020
