This is a special lot that was kept separately to be released on the 100th birthday of the winery, hence the name "Centenario 1890-1990". A blend of Tempranillo (85%), Mazuelo, Graciano and Viura. First fermented and aged for 24 months in large oak vats. Then aged for 120 months (10 years) in old (18-20 yo) oak barriques. Bottled in 1986 and released in 1990, after a minimum of 42 months of bottle-aging. 12.4% alcohol. Bottle #4826.
Developed pomegranate color that permits some light through. The nose feels big and developed with complex and somewhat sweet-toned aromas of tobacco leaf, wizened red cherries, cedary wood, some mocha pastries, a little bit of sweet raisiny fruit, light plummy tones, a hint of smoke and a touch of meat consommé. No noticeable vanilla character typical of LRA here. The wine is full-bodied, complex and beautifully textural on the palate with wizened yet relatively fresh flavors of wizened dark fruits, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of red plummy fruit, light chocolatey mocha tones, a little bit of raisiny character, a hint of prune and a fragrant touch of cinnamon. The wine is wonderfully high in acidity with resolved, gently grippy medium tannins. The finish is complex, gently grippy and very lenghty with dry flavors of raisiny and somewhat pruney fruit tones, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of savory earth, light minty green tones, a hint of tobacco and a touch of meat consommé.
A beautiful, harmonious and complex LRA red that is all about developed, layered Rioja fruit flavors with none of that vanilla character LRA is so known for. Although quite developed and pretty tertiary now, at the age of 45 years, this classically built Rioja wine is still surprisingly fresh and enormously enjoyable. An outstanding effort and among the best LRA wines I've tasted. Highly recommended.
Off the bottle list at Pujol in Mexico City. This wine was quite possibly the perfect pairing for mole (which is a classic dish at that restaurant - the one we were served was aged for 4 years). Lots of coffee and chocolate and cedar. Fresh tasting although age apparent in the more brickish coloring in the glass. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork disintegrating, did not come out in one piece but managed to extract it.
Heavily bricked colour, almost like a whiskey.
The nose is FANTASTIC and jumps out of the glass. Cedar, spice, sweet cherry.
The palette is smooth, rounded and still has a lovely mouthfeel with Asian spice, red cherries and a hint of tobacco. Acidity is in balance with the fruit (those who like fruitbombs would not be so keen). On the verge of being tired but still alive and drinking great.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
LRA Ardanza & 904 (The Medlar, London): Some discussion as to whether it was 904 or something else, possibly a blend, or even the Arana. I bought it described as 904, and indeed John Gilman suggests it is 904 and possibly a better selection of barrels that would normally have gone in to 890; note 890 was also produced in 73. Anyway, a similar mid garnet colour. Brighter acidity here initially. Relatively light through the mid palate. Finishes well and fills out in the glass considerably over approx. 30 minutes. Showing far more like the 904 now. Lovely. Richness with freshness. ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bottle given to a friend was vinegar. This bottle was brown but clean, light, still showing regional style, oak noticeable. Touch of toffee on the finish. Soft, frail, glugable.
Expect huge bottle variation.
12.5% ABV, sealed with cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 vertical 1964-2001 and a bonus from 50s: Nose of barnyard and leather, there's also some jam and orange rind in the background, old wood. Very integrated on the palate - old wood, leather, red berry jam. Rich, silky, but with lively accidity, quite round comparing to '64 or the one from 50s. There grows a note of sauna on the nose with air.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A profound Rioja of great proportions. Absolutely beautiful, classic and busy developing into an even greater wine. We gave it 3 hrs of dbl decant bf going to the restaurant. This is an ultra typical Rioja with some small age that makes the nose captivating and the palate ultra rich, superbly complex and layered. In this wine are a vast array of earth-related aromas including minerality well balanced by red berries. Roel hit the nail on the head in 2007: "Reminds me of autumn; old wood, sour cherries, forest and mushrooms." Ex Bodega. Only btl, opened too early, but PLEASURE... w/Kosugi sensei at fantastic Restaurant Tani in Gaienmae, Tokyo.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nariz de media intensidad y un perfil curioso, a medio camino entre un Viña Ardanza y un 904 gran reserva. Muy clásico y reconocible. Hay apuntes de fruta roja en confitura, mondaduras secas de naranja, cacao en polvo, guinda en licor y un fondo a maderas viejas, barniz, avainillados. Sigue creciendo en intensidad poco a poco y ganando en expresión de clasicismo riojano: cava de puros, torrefactados, abedul ruso, cuero viejo, pelo mojado, crin, animal, faisandage. Serio y sin concesiones. Hay una buena carga de terciarios y una reducción elegantísima (ahumados, pimienta, hojarasca) que va ganando protagonismo hasta imponerse en primer plano.
Redondez y suavidad en boca. Un vino reposado que lo basa todo en el equilibrio. Taninos finos como perlas que se engarzan suavemente en una acidez viva y nerviosa. Sabroso, con nervio, lleno de fruta en confitura, con un apunte de dulcedumbre interesante y unos tostados cremosos, de calidad.
Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 85% tempranillo, 15% mazuelo y graciano - 12% vol. Una parte de la tempranillo provenía de los viñedos propios más viejos ubicados en subzona de la Rioja Alta, principalmente de los municipios de Ollauri, Rodezno y Cenicero, y el resto de mazuelo y graciano de las fincas Melchorón I y II de Briones y Rodezno. Otro parte era comprada después de una selección de uvas de los mejores majuelos de los productores locales, con la condición de contener el azúcar suficiente para producir un 12% de alcohol como mínimo y sin mezcla de uvas blancas.
Permanece entre 8 y 10 meses en los grandes tinos de roble centenario fundacionales de la bodega, de madera gris, donde completa la fermentación malolática y se estabiliza. Criado en barricas de roble americano de 225 litros durante 72 meses, con un total de 12 trasiegas manuales para eliminar los posos y oxigenarse levemente. Embotellado en julio de 1982. Un mínimo de 42 meses de guarda en botellero en los viejos calados de Haro antes de ser comercializado. Se trata de una selección especial elaborada expresamente para celebrar los 100 años de vida de la bodega (Edición Centenario 1890 - 1990). La presentación de esta botella sirve de homenaje a los viejos vinos de La Rioja Alta emulando las antiguas etiquetas usadas antes de la creación de las marcas actuales. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little disappointing after the 64s had aged so well. The cork had gone, and there was a lot of age on the nose, although the mouthfeel and the balance was still good. Fruit a little muted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oh was this good or what? Fruit compote infused with bacon. Superbly elegant, finely weaved tannins hold together a stew of meat, earth and red plums. Velvety but in no way thin or over the hill. Just great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spicy nose, not a very strong nose, not fruity, spicy dirt smell. Tastes rich, earthy on back of tongue. Musky like the basement. A bit past its prime.
4/2/2020 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Maybe 93. Not fading. Purchased 20 yrs ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2018 - forceberry wrote: 95 Points
This is a special lot that was kept separately to be released on the 100th birthday of the winery, hence the name "Centenario 1890-1990". A blend of Tempranillo (85%), Mazuelo, Graciano and Viura. First fermented and aged for 24 months in large oak vats. Then aged for 120 months (10 years) in old (18-20 yo) oak barriques. Bottled in 1986 and released in 1990, after a minimum of 42 months of bottle-aging. 12.4% alcohol. Bottle #4826.
Developed pomegranate color that permits some light through. The nose feels big and developed with complex and somewhat sweet-toned aromas of tobacco leaf, wizened red cherries, cedary wood, some mocha pastries, a little bit of sweet raisiny fruit, light plummy tones, a hint of smoke and a touch of meat consommé. No noticeable vanilla character typical of LRA here. The wine is full-bodied, complex and beautifully textural on the palate with wizened yet relatively fresh flavors of wizened dark fruits, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of red plummy fruit, light chocolatey mocha tones, a little bit of raisiny character, a hint of prune and a fragrant touch of cinnamon. The wine is wonderfully high in acidity with resolved, gently grippy medium tannins. The finish is complex, gently grippy and very lenghty with dry flavors of raisiny and somewhat pruney fruit tones, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of savory earth, light minty green tones, a hint of tobacco and a touch of meat consommé.
A beautiful, harmonious and complex LRA red that is all about developed, layered Rioja fruit flavors with none of that vanilla character LRA is so known for. Although quite developed and pretty tertiary now, at the age of 45 years, this classically built Rioja wine is still surprisingly fresh and enormously enjoyable. An outstanding effort and among the best LRA wines I've tasted. Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/8/2018 - Lype Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very ripe cherries, Spanish saddle leather, velvety pleasant mouthfeel, good balanced package, not overwhelmed by acidity like some old Rioja are.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Off the bottle list at Pujol in Mexico City. This wine was quite possibly the perfect pairing for mole (which is a classic dish at that restaurant - the one we were served was aged for 4 years). Lots of coffee and chocolate and cedar. Fresh tasting although age apparent in the more brickish coloring in the glass. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2016 - Hazeo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Cork disintegrating, did not come out in one piece but managed to extract it.
Heavily bricked colour, almost like a whiskey.
The nose is FANTASTIC and jumps out of the glass. Cedar, spice, sweet cherry.
The palette is smooth, rounded and still has a lovely mouthfeel with Asian spice, red cherries and a hint of tobacco. Acidity is in balance with the fruit (those who like fruitbombs would not be so keen). On the verge of being tired but still alive and drinking great.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2016 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
LRA Ardanza & 904 (The Medlar, London): Some discussion as to whether it was 904 or something else, possibly a blend, or even the Arana. I bought it described as 904, and indeed John Gilman suggests it is 904 and possibly a better selection of barrels that would normally have gone in to 890; note 890 was also produced in 73. Anyway, a similar mid garnet colour. Brighter acidity here initially. Relatively light through the mid palate. Finishes well and fills out in the glass considerably over approx. 30 minutes. Showing far more like the 904 now. Lovely. Richness with freshness. ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2016 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 88 Points
A bottle given to a friend was vinegar. This bottle was brown but clean, light, still showing regional style, oak noticeable. Touch of toffee on the finish. Soft, frail, glugable.
Expect huge bottle variation.
12.5% ABV, sealed with cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2016 - AMRS wrote: flawed
DOA.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2015 - WineCellarTV Likes this wine: 97 Points
Super fine, intense and present wine of sophistication, complexity and freshness. Still young!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2014 - AV2012 wrote: 89 Points
Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 vertical 1964-2001 and a bonus from 50s: Nose of barnyard and leather, there's also some jam and orange rind in the background, old wood. Very integrated on the palate - old wood, leather, red berry jam. Rich, silky, but with lively accidity, quite round comparing to '64 or the one from 50s. There grows a note of sauna on the nose with air.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2013 - sharkarama wrote: 91 Points
A much better bottle, clear fruit, smooth, warming tannins and has kept a lovely shape
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2013 - StefanAkiko wrote: 96 Points
A profound Rioja of great proportions. Absolutely beautiful, classic and busy developing into an even greater wine. We gave it 3 hrs of dbl decant bf going to the restaurant.
This is an ultra typical Rioja with some small age that makes the nose captivating and the palate ultra rich, superbly complex and layered. In this wine are a vast array of earth-related aromas including minerality well balanced by red berries.
Roel hit the nail on the head in 2007: "Reminds me of autumn; old wood, sour cherries, forest and mushrooms."
Ex Bodega. Only btl, opened too early, but PLEASURE...
w/Kosugi sensei at fantastic Restaurant Tani in Gaienmae, Tokyo.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2013 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 92 Points
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2013/06/la-rioja-alta-904-gran-reserva-1973.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
De color rubí marronoso de medio cuerpo, muy claro, reflejos rojizos, limpio, borde anaranjado con apenas diferencias con el menisco.
Nariz de media intensidad y un perfil curioso, a medio camino entre un Viña Ardanza y un 904 gran reserva. Muy clásico y reconocible. Hay apuntes de fruta roja en confitura, mondaduras secas de naranja, cacao en polvo, guinda en licor y un fondo a maderas viejas, barniz, avainillados. Sigue creciendo en intensidad poco a poco y ganando en expresión de clasicismo riojano: cava de puros, torrefactados, abedul ruso, cuero viejo, pelo mojado, crin, animal, faisandage. Serio y sin concesiones. Hay una buena carga de terciarios y una reducción elegantísima (ahumados, pimienta, hojarasca) que va ganando protagonismo hasta imponerse en primer plano.
Redondez y suavidad en boca. Un vino reposado que lo basa todo en el equilibrio. Taninos finos como perlas que se engarzan suavemente en una acidez viva y nerviosa. Sabroso, con nervio, lleno de fruta en confitura, con un apunte de dulcedumbre interesante y unos tostados cremosos, de calidad.
Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
85% tempranillo, 15% mazuelo y graciano - 12% vol.
Una parte de la tempranillo provenía de los viñedos propios más viejos ubicados en subzona de la Rioja Alta, principalmente de los municipios de Ollauri, Rodezno y Cenicero, y el resto de mazuelo y graciano de las fincas Melchorón I y II de Briones y Rodezno. Otro parte era comprada después de una selección de uvas de los mejores majuelos de los productores locales, con la condición de contener el azúcar suficiente para producir un 12% de alcohol como mínimo y sin mezcla de uvas blancas.
Permanece entre 8 y 10 meses en los grandes tinos de roble centenario fundacionales de la bodega, de madera gris, donde completa la fermentación malolática y se estabiliza. Criado en barricas de roble americano de 225 litros durante 72 meses, con un total de 12 trasiegas manuales para eliminar los posos y oxigenarse levemente. Embotellado en julio de 1982. Un mínimo de 42 meses de guarda en botellero en los viejos calados de Haro antes de ser comercializado. Se trata de una selección especial elaborada expresamente para celebrar los 100 años de vida de la bodega (Edición Centenario 1890 - 1990). La presentación de esta botella sirve de homenaje a los viejos vinos de La Rioja Alta emulando las antiguas etiquetas usadas antes de la creación de las marcas actuales.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2013 - sharkarama wrote: 89 Points
A little disappointing after the 64s had aged so well. The cork had gone, and there was a lot of age on the nose, although the mouthfeel and the balance was still good. Fruit a little muted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2011 - Rani wrote: 96 Points
Oh was this good or what? Fruit compote infused with bacon. Superbly elegant, finely weaved tannins hold together a stew of meat, earth and red plums. Velvety but in no way thin or over the hill. Just great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2010 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
Smooth like silk with Great Winne written all over it, if I could get it at DOUBLE the price on CT, I'd still load a truck.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2009 - sheltonhead wrote: 80 Points
Spicy nose, not a very strong nose, not fruity, spicy dirt smell. Tastes rich, earthy on back of tongue. Musky like the basement. A bit past its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)