2011 Gran Reserva 904, La Rioja Alta, Rioja, Spain
- Red
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- Tempranillo
Ready - youthful
- Josh Raynolds
- 94/100
- Luis Gutiérrez
- 94/100
- Sarah Jane Evans MW
- 95/100
- James Suckling
- 96/100
Product: 20111120990
Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2011
Maturity Ready - youthful
Grape List Tempranillo
Body Full Bodied
Producer La Rioja Alta
Critics reviews
Josh Raynolds 94/100
Deep, shimmering garnet. Highly perfumed cherry, blueberry, smoked meat, coconut and floral pastille scents are complemented by a succulent herb nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering intense cherry-vanilla, candied rose, cola and mocha flavors sharpened by a late jolt of spiciness. Shows outstanding clarity and penetrating red fruit character on the gently tannic, impressively long, smoky finish, which leaves a repeating floral note behind.Drink 2022 - 2034josh_raynolds, Vinous.com (March 2021)
Drink 2022 - 2034
Luis Gutiérrez 94/100
I usually prefer the 904 to the 890, but there will be no Gran Reserva 890 until the 2010 vintage (from the last vintage I tasted, 2005). So, the only one of the extended-aging Haro-style reds I tasted this time was the 2011 Gran Reserva 904, which had a hard act to follow after the 2010 vintage. It's a blend of 89% Tempranillo and 11% Graciano matured in American oak barrels for four years, and it was racked eight times from barrel to barrel during its élevage, which sounds a bit harsh for a vintage like 2011 when the wines were not as complete and robust as in 2010. It has the classic profile, aromas and flavors (decayed leaves, tobacco, sweet spices, a meaty touch and some black fruit), but the oak seems to take a more leading role and the palate feels less juicy. It finishes dry. The final blend was bottled in November 2016, filling 150,000 bottles.Drink now to 2030Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (October 2020)
Drink 2022 - 2034
Sarah Jane Evans MW 95/100
I could not resist including the cousins: La Rioja Alta 890 and 904. I am devoted to 890, but I know that 904 has many vociferous fans. The first difference is the Graciano in this wine, more than 10%. This adds lovely freshness, and darker characters from liquorice to spice. The wine spends a little less time ageing, and remains generous and mouth filling with dark cherries and orange zest. Very delicious.Drink now to 2050Sarah Jane Evans MW, Decanter (December 2022)
Drink 2022 - 2034
James Suckling 96/100
Lovely dried red fruit, such as plums with just a hint of prunes. Cedar, walnut and leather undertones. Full-bodied with lots of fruit, considering its age, as well as hints of smoke, tobacco, bark and black tea. Some balsamic at the finish. Traditionally styled with lovely results. Drink or hold.james_suckling, jamessuckling_com (January 2022)
Drink 2022 - 2034
About this wine
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino
A high quality red wine grape that is grown all over Spain except in the hot South - it is known as Tinto Fino in Ribera del Duero, Cencibel in La Mancha and Valdepenas and Ull de Llebre in Catalonia. Its spiritual home is in Rioja and Navarra where it constitutes around 70% of most red blends.
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Rioja Alta
Rioja is known primarily for its reds although it also makes white wines from the Viura and Malvasia grapes and rosés mainly from Garnacha. Most wineries (bodegas) have their own distinct red wine formula, but are normally a combination of Tempranillo, Garnacha and sometimes Graciano. Other red varieties recently approved into the Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) regulations are the little-known Maturana Tinta, Maturana
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La Rioja Alta
La Rioja Alta continues to be one of the benchmarks for traditionally produced Rioja wine. Established in 1890 at the same spot where their head office sits today, their three Reserva Wine brands, Alberdi, Arana and Ardanza are named after the founding families, all three of which remain shareholders. The company still maintains traditional Rioja winemaking practices whilst embracing many of the new technological advances.
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