La Rioja Alta : Gran Reserva 890 2004

Tasting characteristics and recommendations for La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2004

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a medium cherry-red color with a pale pink rim.

Nose
The bouquet is very intense and pure, developing balsamic and spicy notes reminiscent of vanilla, caramel, mint chocolate and various spices. A fruity backdrop of prunes and dried apricots completes this complex aromatic palette.

Palate
On the palate, this wine delights with perfect balance and elegant acidity, supported by a fine structure. The tannins are round and polished, leading to a silky finish. The length is ample and very persistent, marked by sweet fruit and pronounced licorice.

Food and wine pairings

This Gran Reserva 890 2004 pairs beautifully with red meats in sauce, herb-seasoned game and aged cheeses. It can also be enjoyed at the end of a meal as a digestif.

Serving and cellaring

Gran Reserva 890 2004 is best enjoyed at 17°C (62.6°F). One hour of decanting reveals its full complexity. Drink through around 2030.

An exceptional Gran Reserva from La Rioja with balsamic and spicy aromas

The estate

La Rioja Alta, founded in 1890, is an emblematic estate of La Rioja. Its vineyard covers 460 hectares split between Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. The La Rioja Alta group also owns properties in Rías Baixas and Ribera del Duero. Still owned by the founding families, this House stands out for in-house barrel production, extended aging, and the Viñedos Artesanales project focused on very old vines in Elvillar. In 2025, it is ranked the 3rd most admired estate in the world.

The vineyard

The grapes come from estate-owned vineyards in Briñas, Labastida and Villalba for tempranillo and mazuelo, as well as from the Montecillo vineyard for graciano. These Rioja terroirs benefit from ideal climatic conditions, with old, low-yielding vines that particularly took advantage of the vintage’s favorable conditions.

The vintage

The year 2004 was marked by abundant winter rainfall, building up significant water reserves. Favorable weather throughout the growing season allowed for healthy fruit at veraison. A pronounced diurnal range during the final ripening, with sunny, moderate days followed by cool nights, encouraged slow, balanced maturation.

Winemaking and aging

After a rigorous selection of bunches transported in small refrigerated crates, the grapes are destemmed and crushed before fermentation at a controlled temperature. Another post-winter selection precedes 6 years of aging in American oak barrels. The barrels are made in-house with imported American oak and air-dried for 3 years at the estate. Gran Reserva 890 2004 undergoes 10 rackings, with continuous barrel selection for the final blend.

Grape varieties

The blend is 95% tempranillo, 2% mazuelo and 3% graciano. This vintage marks the first use of graciano from the Montecillo vineyard for Gran Reserva 890.