Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano

Ready to go. Elegant, soft structure and extremely aromatic. Notes of dill, vanilla, dried plums, and tobacco. Color shows age development and nose has some tertiary qualities but will cellar well for next 10+ years

Decanted for an hour, this was intensely aromatic with a complex melange of flavors--vanilla, figs, cherries, green olives, tobacco leaf, cinnamon, and chalky dust--while staying light on its feet with refreshing acidity, resolved, silky tannins, and medium body. Even at this price, I'd call this a value.

2004. Drink now if you're impatient. It's delicious. But drink in 10 years if you're a better man than I.

Wow! Velvet, dark currants, mocha, caramel, dark chocolate, saddle-wood, underbrush, gravel, stones & elegance that only happens with this much time forward. Round acidity and beautiful balance and finish.

Stupidly good with our Tri-tip!!!

Photos of; my visits to Bodega La Rioja, their well backlit tasting bar, outside patio and large oak barrels that were assembled inside the Bodega more than 100 years ago...they’re that big and have required many repairs over the years.

Let it breathe, excellent.

Simply gorgeous. Drank at Arzak Restaurant in San Sebastián.

Who loves old school Rioja? I do, I do! 2004, a baby.

Red wine of the night for sure. Beautiful, classic Rioja made in the traditional style. This could last another 20 years and be just as gorgeous.

Out of a magnum. Good but not as good as the 2005 the night before.

Nicely evolved, with abundant aromas of hung game, tobacco, lapsang souchong, and truffle. Ripe and mature red fruit. Silky, mostly resolved tannins.