La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 'Selección Especial' 2016

There are very few wines I recommend as confidently as La Rioja Alta's 904.

I've been fortunate enough to enjoy both the 904 and its more prestigious sibling, the legendary 890 on several occasions. While the 890 remains one of Rioja's great wines, it's the 904 that I find myself returning to time and again. For me, it captures everything that makes traditional Rioja so compelling, while offering extraordinary value for the quality in the glass. The 2016 vintage was also awarded the rare "Selección Especial" designation by the estate, reserved for exceptional vintages.

Aromatic layers of red cherries, dried strawberries and sweet vanilla mingle with cedar, tobacco and warming spice, all wrapped around wonderfully silky tannins. Mature enough to show the hallmarks of classic Rioja, yet still vibrant and energetic, it's a wine that effortlessly balances elegance with generosity.

The 890 may sit at the top of the range, but if I were spending my own money, I'd reach for the 904 almost every time. It delivers so much of what makes La Rioja Alta extraordinary that I struggle to think of another fine wine offering quite so much pleasure for the price.