1998 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904

Community Tasting Notes (175) Avg Score: 91.4 points

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  11/25/2023 - Keith Cooper wrote: 95 Points

  Tasted at home with friends, one of three reds, all 1998 vintage. To accompany slow cooked beef cheeks.
  
  Opened and decanted 1 hour.
  
  This was favourite of the three reds. Drak plum colour. Looking and feeling young for its 25 years. Lovely rich palate, bursting with dark berry fruit, long and very quaffable! Heavenly and a pleasure to drink.

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  9/30/2023 - remyworldpeace Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Lovely plum, dark blackberry, some earthy maturity. Excellent tobacco and cedar. Tobacco and potpourri. Touch of incese and sweet fig. Still fresh.
  
  Seemed to be at its absolute peak drinking and was everything I'd hope of from a mature Rioja Gran Reserva. Extremely enjoyable.

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  6/30/2023 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:

  New Opportunities by the Sea; 6/7/2023-6/30/2023 (Alicante - España): 1st of six. Half box purchased directly from property. Bottle open for lunch, slow breathing on the table for almost three hours. Low quality cork extracted in two pieces (pictured). Thanks again The Durand for coming to the rescue. Beautiful crimson colour with orange edges. Corresponding to this reserved vintage, initially on the nose appears very shy but eager to bloom. Aromas of flesh macerated in spices plus notes of box of cigars and hazelnuts stand out. Surprising complexity. Rather tough than floral and still with an lowforest wrapper (thyme, lavender and rosemary mainly). Then strawberries and vanilla appear. On the palate it offers that velvety texture of a medium-bodied wine, a very lively balancing acidity and an unforgettable taste on the middle palate. Good length and a aftertaste between a leather boot tar and a cherry soda. Splendid depth anyway.
  Almost twenty-five years on and these bottles still treasure the best of their essence for years to come. All Rioja wines are about. Time for fun.
  
  1ra de seis. Media caja comprada directamente a la propiedad. Botella abierta para el almuerzo, respirando sobre la mesa durante casi tres horas. Corcho de baja calidad extraído en dos piezas (en la imagen). Gracias de nuevo The Durand por venir al rescate. Bello color carmesí con bordes anaranjados. Correspondiendo a esta añada reservada, inicialmente en nariz aparece muy tímida pero con ganas de florecer. Sobresalen aromas a carne fresca macerada en especias más notas a caja de puros y avellanas. Complejidad sorprendente. Más recio que floral y aún así con un envoltorio de sotobosque (tomillo, lavanda y romero principalmente). Posteriormente aparecen fresas y vainilla. En boca ofrece la textura aterciopelada de un vino de cuerpo medio, de una acidez muy viva equilibrante y de un inolvidable sabor en el paladar medio. Buena longitud y un retrogusto entre la pez de una bota de cuero y un refresco de cerezas. Esplendida profundidad.
  Casi veinticinco años a sus espaldas y estas botellas todavía atesoran lo mejor de su esencia para los años venideros. En gran parte de esto tratan los vinos de Rioja. Tiempo de disfrutar.

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  5/6/2023 - johnh1001 wrote: 88 Points

  Interesting but seemed super advanced

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  4/23/2023 - Tannatastic Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Perfectly in it's drinking window I would say, with plenty left in the tank.
  
  Surprisingly midweight - given '98 being a slightly more 'robust' vintage - oak completely integrated, tannins (such as they exist in Rioja) pretty much gone, leaving the aged, acidic fruits, which always tend towards red at this age, but with a touch of black here, reflecting the vintage. Leather and other aged indicators.
  
  I've found over the years that 904 seems to overperform in 'lesser' vintages, and this definitely fits the mould. I would say on experience the CVNE Imperial GR is the slightly more sophisticated wine (in this vintage). Just a lovely wine, and another great aged Rioja. I hope the newer, higher ABV style can still age like this in 20 or 30 years.

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