Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano

Dark and sweet and delicious. Gnarly deep fruit but a lifted clarity and deliciousness. Really good

Dusty and sanguine - pomegranate and cherry … oak is loud, fruit still hanging on. Quite good!

La Rioja tiene un pacto de vida eterna en sus vinos.

Very clean, pretty. Fruit still fresh. Glugable

First Friday of the season calls for an older Rioja. Imagine a secret library - old leather book covers, twinkly dust moats floating in a sunny patch, the slightest hint of strawberry jam from breakfast lingering on the palate. Or something like that.

Pretty good year

Another beauty from @lariojaaltasa that I nabbed from @gabbymeetswine @vilaviniteca for €150 and it’s singing 😍 check Instagram for pics of cork & wine ⏩ This is at peak drinking 🕺

📍 La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1985

🏵 96 points

🍇 85% Tempranillo w/ Mazuelo & Graciano

🍷 Slight garnet clear ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smokey charred oak in a damp cellar through mashed earthy cherry & old leather w/ balsamic, cocoa, herbs & vanilla expressed perfectly in a Zalto Burgundy glass

👄 Med body of super silky fine creamed cherry bathed in cocoa w/ red berry tones & light balsamic

🎯 A very long balsamic cherry cocoa linger that just goes on and on 😍 w/ a touch of dry oak as it dissipates into mocha

Exceptional, after 32y it tasted great

Probably top 10 of all time. Tobacco, cherry, vibrant acidity, and really well integrated oak.

What a special treat. Drank more like a French Burgundy.