The 2015 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 Selección Especial marks a historic release—the first ever to carry the "Selección Especial" label in over a century. A blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano, it showcases the elegance, depth, and aging potential that define classic Rioja at its finest.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 98
Published: Aug 18, 2023

Very impressive complexity and width on the nose, showing lots of savoriness with mushrooms, sandalwood, cedar, sweet spices, dried oranges and tobacco. Really even and juicy on the palate with fine and very present tannins. Juicy, creamy finish lasting a minute. Really elegant and layered. It goes on and on. A real Rioja Gran Reserva and I recommend buying a case! The first vintage that La Rioja Alta labelled ‘Seleccion Especial’. So appealing now, but this will evolve well in the next 20 years.

The Wine Advocate | RP 95
Published: Feb 29, 2024
Drink: 2024-2035

I tasted again the 2015 Gran Reserva 904 Selección Especial, a blend of 90% Tempranillo from their vineyards in Villalba, Briñas and Rodezno, with 10% Graciano from the Montecillo Vineyard in Fuenmayor that was picked 23 days later than the Tempranillo that I had already tasted in mid-2022 before the wine was released. Time in bottle has done it some good, polishing the strong tannins that are the signature from 2015, though they are still not fully resolved, and a few more years in bottle will do it good. It's tasty, very classical, balanced and fresh. Impressive for such a powerful year. It was bottled in March 2020 after it matured in used American oak barrels for four years.

The Gran Reserva 904 carries the mention "Selección Especial" in the 2015 vintages for the first time in its 120 years of history. It follows the 2011 vintage and was released in April 2023. They now have 587 hectares of vineyard that allow them to produce 100% of the grapes they use for their 1.5 million bottles. This is one of the most traditional addresses in Rioja. and they release the wines quite late and have the equivalent of eight years in stock. 

Riojalta.com

The good weather throughout the cycle favoured an excellent vegetative and sanitary condition of our grapes. All components were balanced, especially in the fruit from vineyards located at high elevation, in cooler areas and with moderate vigour. Towards the end of the ripening stage, we had days with significant temperature variations, sunny mornings and very cold nights, so maturation was very well-balanced in this final period. The resulting wines stand out for their fresh, Atlantic character, elegant acidity, fruit intensity and balanced, silky tannins. These qualities make them particularly well-suited to ageing.

Tempranillo (90%) is the main variety. Grapes are selected from our vineyards in Villalba, Briñas and Rodezno, and are blended with 10% Graciano from the Montecillo vineyard in Fuenmayor.

Tempranillo was the first to be harvested, followed 23 days later by the Graciano from Montecillo. All the grapes were placed in small boxes and transported in refrigerated vehicles to preserve the integrity of the fruit. This vintage was the first that the grapes were optically selected, berry by berry, so only those that met our strictest quality standards were chosen for this wine. Alcoholic fermentation in tanks lasted 21 days and was followed by malolactic fermentation. In January 2016 we selected the finest wines to age them in American oak barrels with an average age of four and a half years and made by our own in-house coopers. After four years in these barrels and traditional rackings —by hand and candlelight— every six months, the final blend was bottled in February 2020.

Medium-high robe with an elegant garnet rim. Great aromatic complexity, with notes of wild strawberry, red cherry, plum, blackberry and cranberry combined with aromas of tobacco, brioche, ground coffee, caramel, cedar and cinnamon blossom. The alcohol and acidity are elegantly balanced on the palate and its polished, gentle tannins and freshness provide a smooth and refined mouthfeel. Fine, delicate and very long aftertaste, that will continue to be rounded with time in the bottle, making this new Gran Reserva 904 a wine with great cellaring potential.

An ideal wine for the most special occasions and celebrations. Especially recommended with not too spicy meat and fish and chocolate desserts. Ideal as an after-dinner drink.