La Rioja Alta’s Gran Reserva 904 2005 is a traditionally styled Rioja built on 90% Tempranillo with 10% Graciano, sourced from vineyards of 40-plus years in villages including Briñas, Labastida and Villalba. It’s a long-aged release, spending about four years in used American oak with repeated rackings before bottling, and it comes in at 13.5% alcohol. The result is a mature, ready Rioja that still has energy and definition.
Several critics gave it standout scores. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded an excellent 96 points, calling it “a superb blend” and “a great classic,” emphasizing a “very balsamic” profile with “camphor, hints of mint, leather and hung game” wrapped around “cherries in liqueur.” On the palate, reviewer Luis Gutiérrez notes it is “only medium-bodied but with great concentration,” with flavors described as “mineral, almost salty,” framed by “ultra-fine tannins” and “smashing balance.” He also notes the scale of the release: “150,000 bottles produced.”
Wine Enthusiast also rated it an excellent 96, leaning into its developed character: “This mature, tawny, ready-to-drink gran reserva…is the epitome of elegance,” with aromas of “lemon peel, cedar and dried cherry” and flavors of “vanilla, orange peel, saffron and dried plum,” recommending drinking “through 2027.”
James Suckling (95) highlights aromatic complexity—“pine needles, ginger, red fruits and cedar,” plus “mushroom…bark and mint”—and praises “ultra fine tannins” and a “tangy and bright finish.”
Wine Spectator is a touch more restrained at 92, but still describes a coherent, classic profile: “dried cherry, floral, licorice and leather,” a “smooth texture,” and a “long and juicy” finish, suggesting near-term enjoyment. Overall, 904 2005 reads as a polished, old-school Rioja with strong critical backing and plenty of drinking pleasure now, with runway ahead.
