Community Tasting Notes 150

• kfk wrote: 92 points

  February 16, 2019 - Spot on. Wine of the night at Spanish tasting. Fully integrated but I think this will live on for another decade plus to take on more tertiary.

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• IndyTom Likes this wine: 94 points

  January 18, 2019 - Stunning. Opened and let breathe for 30 minutes and then decanted for another hour. Dark red fruits on the nose. Seamless texture, fully integrated tannins and wonderful fruit. Everything is in total balance right now. 21 years old and a total delight.

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• straight outta iowa Likes this wine: 93 points

  September 25, 2018 - I found the LRA to be in a very nice spot at the age of 20, with potential for decades of continuing evolution. The wine was bigger than I expected, and really nicely balanced and integrated. Particularly prominent here was vanilla from the American oak, cherry, spice, grass/hay, and a nice touch of cinnamon. Also stood up quite well vs. the rib eye. While the age might have been surprising, the LRA could not be mistaken for anything other than just what it is -- which in my book is a cool thing nowadays.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• David J Cooper wrote: 92 points

  September 15, 2018 - Medium light red with clear edges. Elegant dried cherry, plum, leather and dill nose. Develops some poopie earthiness as it sits in the glass. Earthy red berry flavours and a long dry finish.
  
  A 904 in perfect balance.

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• forceberry wrote: 93 points

  August 17, 2018 - A blend of Tempranillo (90%) and Mazuelo aka. Carignan (10%). Fermented in large oak vats. Aged for 4 years in American oak barrels that are on average 4 years old, but includes some new barrels as well. 12,5% alcohol.
  
  Developed and slightly translucent maroon-hued dried blood color with a thin, almost colorless rim. Quite dense, moderately developed and somewhat aromatic nose with sweet-toned aromas of ripe strawberry, some wizened cherry notes, light dill-driven character of American oak along with lighter vanilla tones and hints of sweet, toasty oak spice. Overall the nose feels concentrated by the age, but also relatively modest by LRA 904 standards - perhaps this vintage is just somewhat underwhelming for 904? The wine is somewhat sweet-toned and dominated by the classic American oak flavors of 904: dill and vanilla. There's a lot of other things going on as well: sour cherries, sweet dried dark fruits, some sanguine meaty character, a little bit of developed oaky creaminess, light notes of stony mineral bitterness and a hint of tobacco. Overall the wine feels firm and balanced with bright, high acidity and gently grippy medium tannins. The mouthfeel is velvety and slightly chewy. The finish is firm yet silky smooth with very long flavors of vanilla, concentrated black cherry-driven fruit, some pruney character, a little bit of dill and meaty hints of umami.
  
  Contrasting the previous time I had this wine in March 2017, when it felt that the wine was very mature and even going downhill, this bottle performed noticeably better. The wine is obviously developed with the fruit tones taking a more dried-fruit character and the mouthfeel showing certain concentration brought on by age, the wine is still very much alive and most likely going to continue improving over the following years. The typical vanilla and dill notes of 904 are still very much to the fore, but most likely they will always be there, so there's no need to expect them to go away in the future. All in all, a very pleasant expression of 904 - perhaps a bit restrained and understated, showing less intensity and vigor this wine usually does, so most likely this vintage is never going to be among the greatest vintages. Nevertheless, pretty lovely stuff.

  2 people found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 2

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1998
• Type Red
• Producer La Rioja Alta
• Varietal Tempranillo Blend
• Designation Gran Reserva 904
• Vineyard n/a
• Country Spain
• Region La Rioja
• SubRegion La Rioja Alta
• Appellation Rioja
• UPC Codes 8413529761093, 890841002024

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 21 (1%)
• In Cellars 1,187 (55%)
• Consumed 933 (44%)

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