Marqués de Villamagna 1975 Gran Reserva

Wine: Marqués de Villamagna 1975 Gran Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Campo Viejo
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 7.5% Graciano, 7.5% Mazuelo
ABV: 12.5% 

Winemaking
Grapes sourced from the oldest estate vineyards in Navarrete (Rioja Alta). Each varietal was vinified separately before the final blend was assembled for aging.

Aging
The process followed the traditional Riojan method: initial aging for 24 months in large 5,000-liter oak tuns, followed by more than 60 months in 225-liter split-stave French oak barrels. Bottled in late 1982, it rested for an additional two years in the winery’s subterranean cellars (calados) to round off before its commercial release in 1984. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Pale ruby of medium depth; limpid and bright with reddish and orange highlights. It features a broad, brick-colored rim.

 

Nose: A stunning bouquet, showing immense classicism and order throughout the tasting. Beautiful autumnal and "twilight" aromas dominate: humus, leaf litter, wet earth, chestnuts, and ozone. These are complemented by a fine, perfumed oak profile with hints of vanilla, withered flowers, nutmeg, "barnyard" (noble reduction), and fresh, slightly reduced red fruit. Aeration benefits the wine significantly, enhancing its fragrance, floral perfume, and depth.

 

Palate: It displays the vigor and energy characteristic of this legendary vintage. Vibrant and concentrated, with a remarkably sharp acidity and a core of fresh, almost piquant, reduced fruit and spices. It combines the finest traits of a classic Rioja with an extraordinary bottle evolution. A red of immense quality, closely resembling the 1973 vintage but with slightly more vigor on the palate. The Gran Reservas of Marqués de Villamagna from the first half of the 1970s represent the qualitative pinnacle of Bodegas Campo Viejo.

 

Personal Score: 95
Tasting Group Score: 95

Tasting Notes (2012-04-12)

 

Appearance: Orange-ruby of medium body; luminous with reddish highlights and a brick-colored rim.

 

Nose: An outpouring of power, finesse, and complexity—all at once. It continuously gains depth with aeration. Creamy notes and English tobacco emerge, giving way to leaf litter, black truffle, smoked pepper, nutmeg, chestnut, exotic woods, birch, and Russian leather. A wealth of information and a superb tasting exercise. After a while, fruit in liqueur, sour cherry, plum and bitter orange preserves, and sun-dried tomato emerge.

 

Palate: It possesses immense energy and a sharp acidity that breathes life into this silky red, which shows a light and elegant mouthfeel. The tannins are caressing, fine, and fully integrated. A wine in peak condition with enormous personality that demands further cellaring. Regrettably, these long-aged Villamagna wines from the 1970s bear no resemblance to contemporary versions, save for the brand name. They were crafted with patience and exhibit an insulting longevity. The reds of Campo Viejo from this era rank among the greatest wines ever produced in Spain.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Score: 94