Rioja Gem
Inside La Rioja Alta's Gran Reserva 904 — a benchmark Tempranillo blend and a masterclass in patient, elegant winemaking.
Written by The Wine Monk · Singapore
Excellence runs in this historical family of Riojas. The 904 is an adaptation and star successor of the original 1904, named for the year the winery came into being with the merger of La Rioja Alta and the Ardanza winery.
Many thanks Brendon (@iwoodwoodu) for sharing this beautiful moment and an opportunity to serve your family.
Rioja, in northern Spain, has several 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 must by law be aged for five years, at least two in oak; La Rioja Alta goes well beyond, with four years in barrel and another five in bottle before release.
Beyond the bottles, it’s the winery’s relentless drive to improve every aspect of winemaking that stands out — from heavy R&D and optically guided laser sorting to making their own barrels from American oak naturally dried on the estate in Spain. We carry the Gran Reserva 2011 and two Magnums: the 2004 Magnum and the 2005 Magnum.
