La Rioja Alta, 904 Gran Reserva, Rioja 2004

(90% tempranillo and 10% graciano): Bright red. Heady aromas of dried red berries, cherry, smoked meat, vanilla and potpourri, with a spicy element gaining strength with air. Fleshy and seamless in texture, offering sappy red fruit and floral pastille flavors and an undertone of sweet vanilla. The spiciness comes back on the finish, which features suave floral and cherry-vanilla qualities and sneaky tannins. This classic, old-school Rioja is delicious now but is destined for a long, graceful evolution.

• Reviewer Name: Josh Raynolds
• Review Date: September 2014