La Rioja Alta’s 904 Gran Reserva is one of the fine wine world’s great bargains. Revered in fine wine circles since its incarnation in 1904, it has maintained its iconic status as one of Rioja’s very finest wines. Produced only 3 or 4 times per decade - only in the very best vintages – and only released when it has been carefully cellar-aged and tasted many times until deemed ready to start drinking – at just over £50 in bond per bottle, this is a collector’s dream!
 
Whilst any vintage of 904 Gran Reserva is a wonderful wine, the 2015 is a particularly special vintage, as it is the first ever to be declared as a Seleccion Especial. La Rioja Alta had previously only ever granted Seleccion Especial status to the greatest vintages of Vina Ardanza – the 1964, 1973, 2001 and 2010, and more recently they extended this to their top wine, the 890 Gran Reserva, for the 2001 and 2005. For now, the 2015 is the only Gran Reserva 904 Seleccion Especial and they believe it ranks up there with the greatest vintages of the past.
 
The 2015 is beginning to drink wonderfully, but I would actually advise holding this for another year or two, as whilst all the lovely balsamic, tobacco-ey, fruity and floral notes are there, it has a denser, more tannic structure than some recent vintages. Open it in 2-3 years and drink over the next 20 or more...or if you can't wait, decant it at breakfast to drink at dinner!