2004 Bodegas Urbina Rioja Gran Reserva 750 ml

Every wine lover should experience the glory of a top-vintage Gran Reserva Rioja aged more than 10 years, and the 2004 Bodegas Urbina delivers that experience in spades. 

The 2004 vintage in Rioja is legendary, heralded as one of the best harvests in the last 25 years. Decanter Magazine gave 2004 a rare five stars, noting that the wines had “concentrated colour and aromas ideal for aging.” Most 2004 Rioja Gran Reservas have disappeared from the market, which makes Bodegas Urbina’s 2004 a huge score.

Bodegas Urbina, a Rioja Alta house founded in 1870, has holdings in and around the village of Cuzcurrita del Río Tirón, noted for a cooler climate and an extended harvest season that help produce reds with especially good levels of acidity for Rioja. Like many higher-end Spanish wineries, Urbina holds back their wines until they deem them ready to drink, which explains why they didn’t release this remarkable bottle from such a grand vintage until late 2021.

Today, Bodegas Urbina is run by brothers and fourth-generation winemakers Angel, Pedro, and Santiago, who make classically styled Riojas that emphasize complexity and nuance. Fermentation takes place in stainless-steel tanks, then the wine ages in a mix of new and used American and French oak. During this time, the wine is occasionally racked, moving it back into stainless steel in order to remove sediment, clean the barrels, conduct sampling, and provide gentle oxygenation to soften the tannins, allowing the fruit to shine through. 

This wine is a happening, and it’s definitely one not to be missed.