2004 Spain

2004 continues to rise in the ratings as a vintage, which is no mean feat given that it started pretty high in the first place. The grape expectations for this cuvée have not been disappointed, however. The blend is divided equally between Cariñena and Garnacha, the vines from the latter being a little older. The wine is aged in barrels, 85% of which are French, 15% American but 0% new. With a broad blue and black fruit to the fore, this is a powerful wine yet with great herbal complexity and linear acidity in the tradition of all the best Priorats.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

From an historic Priorat family which can trace its lineage back to before 1700, Sangenís I Vaqué was founded in 1978 by Pere Sangenís and Conxita Vaqué. The vineyards are located in Porrera, famous for its llicorella (schist and slate) terraces and vines, all of which are venerable, and divided between Garnacha and Cariñena. Minimal intervention in the winery is the philosophy here. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered and can, as a result, be seen as amongst the purest and most traditional, in all its best senses, from this magical denominación.

Tondonia’s extended ageing process results in a wine that is not about fruit but has so much complexity, so much character that it is impossible to put down. The excellent 2004 vintage has brought additional concentration and personality to the wine, which is still unbelievably fresh.

Classic notes of leather, cured meat and spice mingle with warm, macerated red fruits on the nose. The palate is mid-weight, but the true beauty of the 2004 lies in the luxurious mouth-feel and intense core of flavour in the wine.
This freshness, combined with the mouth-coating flavours, suggest that, although a joy to drink now, this is a wine that will hold for at least a decade more. It is, put simply, glorious, traditional, elegant Rioja.

Vivid red. The nose displays an array of ripe red fruits, pungent flowers and exotic spices, with vanilla bean and coconut accents building with air. Sweet, broad and luscious, offering intense cherry-vanilla and raspberry liqueur flavors that deepen on the back half. Shows excellent depth as well as finesse, with velvety tannins adding shape to the very long, gripping finish. This suave, seamless Rioja spent six years in American oak barrels. Drink 2019 - 2026
93/100 points, Josh Raynolds, vinous.com, Nov 2015

A more traditional style of Priorat, this has a very serious density and depth of dark, brooding fruit. The tannins are substantial; they should be, but they are also fine and elegant. Combined with dark chocolate and touches of coffee this has lots of detail in the mid-palate, it is a wonderfully enjoyable and, dare I say, feminine Priorat – a bargain to drink over the coming years. Drink 2012-2016.
(Gary Owen, Private Account Manager)

Winemaker Javier Ausas likens the 2004 to the legendary 1970 and it’s easy to see why.  The nose is very perfumed, elegant and pure with heady florals, raspberry and mulberry fruit and well-integrated sweet spice of oak. In the mouth the wine displays flavours of liquorice, strawberry and black cherry chocolate accompanied by exquisite textural, velvety tannins and ends on an almost ethereal finish of wild herbs (thyme and heather) that just goes on and on. This is a wine for the long run, it’s still tight and very young and has the structure to go the long mile. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Along with 2001, 2004 is proving itself as a great recent Rioja vintage, an excellent backdrop for the famous Prado Enea Gran Reserva. Made from 80% Tempranillo, 7% of both Garnacha and Mazuelo and 6% Graciano, the wine has already enjoyed 12 months in vat, three years in barrel and another 36 months in bottle, bringing us pretty much up to date. Garnet to blood red of hue, the wine is savoury, fat and indulgent, with a whiff of gentle decay which is far from unattractive, drawing the taster into a den of tobacco and leathery sapidity. The wine finishes strongly with firm acidity and a baroque crescendo.
Simon Field MW, Fine Wine Buyer

The key things that have struck me in the 2004 are firstly how complimentary the wine is to its Vega siblings, secondly how much more polished it is stylistically than in previous vintages. Created in 1991 to be the modern more Francophile face of Vega Sicilia, Alion ages its wines entirely in new oak barriques ( 225 ltrs) sourced in Nevers, but crafted in the internal cooperage. Located 11 km from Vega, in the village of Palidda de Duero, the winery sits in a carefully managed natural environment, its tapestry of forests and scrubland manicured to ensure the integrity of the microclimate.Alion is now entering superstar territory; 2004 in Spain is being re-appraised in a up-ward direction. It should therefore not come as a syllogistic surprise that Alion 2004 is an exceptional wine. The benevolent conditions of 2004 were characterised by Spring rainfall and a very lengthy and warm ripening season all the way up to the late September harvest; the wine is appropriately dark of hue, with a nose of aniseed, spice, sousbois and blackcurrant. On the palate the tannins are fine but powerful, the fruit is dark, velvety and rich. The edifice is powerful and young, but finely wrought in its architectural complexity.

Another great success from Rioja Alta.  The nose is full of leather and all spice, very attractive and alluring notes that keep making me go back for more and more.  The palate is very fresh and tightly wound and even though the wine is deceptively juicy and flowing across the palate.  This effortlessness belies the fact that one should keep for at least another 3 – 5 years.  There is a real finesse here added to the understated richness and complexity from the barrel aging. A truly lovely wine.
Simon Field, MW - Wine Buyer

Pago de Los Capellanes’ top cuvée is made from 100% Tinto Fino and is aged in new French oak barrels for 16 months. It is convincing proof of Ribero del Duero's phenomenal potential, with fruit, tannin and acidity entwined with consummate skill.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, January 2011)