R. López de Heredia Viña Bosconia Gran Reserva 2004 Rioja

This is a medium-bodied red Rioja Gran Reserva from López de Heredia, made from the 2004 vintage. The grapes come from the El Bosque vineyard beside the Ebro River, at about 465 metres above sea level. Of its 15 hectares, 11 are planted to Tempranillo. The vineyard is cooler, which gives fresher wines, and picking began late, from 20 October. Only 6,000 bottles were produced. The wine was bottled in March 2019 after an élevage that included time in old oak vats. The nose is open and expressive, with cherries in liqueur and iodine. The texture is elegant, with very fine tannins and pungent flavours, powerful yet fresh and balanced, and persistent.