La Rioja Alta, Rioja Gran Reserva 904 Seleccion Especial 2015

For the first time in its century-long history, La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 has been designated 'Selección Especial'. The picture of elegance, complexity, and concentration - and with incredible capacity to age - this wine is not to be missed.

'Selección Especial' is a term used by La Rioja Alta only in the very finest vintages, years where the growing conditions produce a wine so extraordinary it must be celebrated. Viña Ardanza has been elevated to this level four times, 890 twice, leaving this first 904 'Selección Especial' a rare beast indeed.

The 2015 vintage was praised by winemaker José Saenz as "without a doubt, one of the best ever for us in Rioja". The Atlantic influence on the season was especially pronounced, creating wines of superb freshness and taut structure. The fruit was selected by handpicking in the vineyard, then again in the winery by a state-of-the-art optical sorter, and then repeatedly whittled down by the winemaker during its four years in barrel, resulting in a 904 that represents the best of this incredible vintage.

Formed by five families in the late 19th century, the La Rioja Alta S.A. winery is one of the most iconic names in Fine Wine, and a benchmark for the traditional style of Rioja. Their Tempranillo-led reds are aged for remarkably long periods in barrels from the producer’s cooperage, and they are one of the last remaining producers to rack their wines by hand and by candlelight – which they do every six months. While they always upheld standards and tradition, La Rioja Alta S.A. never stopped experimenting and pushing for better quality, offering some of the purest, more precise expressions of Tempranillo in the world.

"Vivid ruby. Expansive red and blue fruit preserve, tobacco, potpourri, spice and botanical herb aromas, with vanilla and smoky mineral notes emerging as the wine opens up. Sappy, penetrating and gently chewy on the palate, offering vibrant, mineral- and spice-accented black raspberry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that deepen and turn sweeter on the back half. Shows sharp focus and floral lift on the impressively long, youthfully tannic finish, which leaves behind notes of candied blue fruits and spicecake." 95 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous

"A perfumed nose of plums, mulberries, mushrooms, caramel, sweet tobacco and sweet spices. Full-bodied with velvety, fine tannins and lively acidity. Balanced and supple with a creamy texture. Delicate and precise with a long, polished finish." 97 points, James Suckling