We are delighted to be able to offer the new vintage of La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904. The 2010 vintage, as with most of Europe, is exceptional in Rioja, which has also resulted in brilliant scores for the other leading Rioja houses. Rioja Alta 904 is considered special, delivering the highest quality in every vintage released. It combines brilliant quality with incredible value, its price on release of £195 offers extraordinary value for one of the world’s leading wines. They produce less than 150,000 bottles of 904 and growing global popularity is stretching production, for a wine that perennially sells out.
The winery praises the 2010 for its finesse and balance and it is already said that this might be the best vintage since the top scoring 96 point 2001 and 2005 vintages. Not yet scored by any major critics apart from Tim Atkin’s 97 points, we can expect this new edition to receive scores in line with both the 2005, 2001 and 1998 vintages which are trading at 12.8%, 28% and 156% premiums respectively to today’s release price. This would put in on par as the best Rioja Alta 904 ever created. La Rioja Alta 904 is solely made in great vintages and released by the estate only when they think it is ready to drink – but this also has years of drinking ahead of it!
Its price of £195 per case of six, or £32.50 IB per bottle, represents utterly outstanding value, with a Price Over Points ratio (POP) of 23. It is hard to think of many other leading global Estate with a POP under 25. The 2010 can be drunk immediately, yet on the strength of the vintage, could age for half a decade. It represents outstanding quality at a brilliant price point.
| Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 | WA | JS | Price(6×75) | POP |
| 2010 | n/a | n/a | £195 | n/a |
| 2005 | 96 | 95 | £220 | 55 |
| 2001 | 96 | 97 | £250 | 63 |
| 1998 | 95 | n/a | £500 | 133 |
| 1997 | 94 | n/a | £400 | 114 |
| 1995 | 89 | 96 | £480 | 213 |
La Rioja Alta
La Rioja Alta is one of the benchmarks for traditional Rioja. The Estate is celebrated for its Grand Reservas 904 and 890; the 890 is named after the genesis of La Rioja Alta in 1890. The Estate begun in earnest in 1890 founded on the very spot where the head office is located today. Like most great winemakers La Rioja Alta remain true to traditional practices, while integrating beneficial modern variances on the winemaking leitmotif. Their two wineries complement each other perfectly: The Haro winery is sited in the Station District and embodies the full flavour of traditional Rioja winemaking and the facility is perfect for ageing wines. The modern facility in Labastida was built specifically to provide the perfect environment for maximising the fermentation process.
The 360 hectare vineyards are located in the very best parts of Rioja Alta which boast limestone soil, in the subzones of Rodezno, Labastida, Briones, Cenicero and Fuenmayor. In addition they have a 63 hectare estate in Tudelilla in Rioja Baja to maximise the growth of Garnacha. La Rioja Alta harvest 5,000 kg/hectare, 24% less than the maximum adhered to across the region, resulting in very high quality fruit. 80% of the vines are trellis-trained and the remaining 20% are goblet trained.
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