Wine: Bodegas Bilbaínas 1962 Gran ReservaWinery: Bodegas Bilbaínas (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha
ABV: 12.5% vol.
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha
ABV: 12.5% vol.
Winemaking:
The wine spent one year in large, seasoned wooden vats for fermentation and stabilization. It then underwent an extensive aging period of 9 to 10 years in used 225-liter American oak barrels. Manual rackings were performed every six months to avoid the need for filtration. Traditional fining with fresh egg whites was conducted before bottling. The wine was aged for a minimum of 8 years in the winery’s bottle racks before commercial release.
The wine spent one year in large, seasoned wooden vats for fermentation and stabilization. It then underwent an extensive aging period of 9 to 10 years in used 225-liter American oak barrels. Manual rackings were performed every six months to avoid the need for filtration. Traditional fining with fresh egg whites was conducted before bottling. The wine was aged for a minimum of 8 years in the winery’s bottle racks before commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Beautiful reddish-ruby color with medium-low depth; remarkably clear
and translucent. Absolutely sediment-free and impeccably clean. Radiant
reddish and amber reflections. Broad, tile-colored (atejado) rim, showing no differentiation from the meniscus.
Nose:
Aromas of immense subtlety; very fine and profoundly complex. It
reveals a delicate sense of maturity and jammy fruit (candied orange,
cherries in liqueur) that carries a perfume of withered petals and
aromatic herbal sachets. Its reduction is so elegantly executed that it
becomes captivating. Aeration breathes life into the wine, which gains
intensity steadily, revealing layers of black truffle, forest floor,
chestnut groves, and humus, over a background of solera and damp staves.
Palate:
It possesses a perfect equilibrium. Fully integrated, pleasant, and
silky to the touch, it features an airy thread of acidity and spicy
registers that linger long into the aftertaste. Immense personality with
a "clarete" profile that is sadly overlooked today. It is simply
scandalous!
Commentary:
Wines of this stature are capable of converting the most skeptical of tasters. This 1962 is another monumental release from Bodegas Bilbaínas, adding to a year that proved to be truly exceptional for the house. A masterclass in traditional Riojan elegance.
Wines of this stature are capable of converting the most skeptical of tasters. This 1962 is another monumental release from Bodegas Bilbaínas, adding to a year that proved to be truly exceptional for the house. A masterclass in traditional Riojan elegance.
Personal Score: 96
Tasting Group Average: 96
Tasting Group Average: 96
Tasting Notes (19/05/2013)
Appearance:
Very low depth; brownish-ruby color with an orange rim. Clear and
brilliant with reddish and salmon-like reflections. Almost no
distinction between the meniscus and the rim.
Nose:
Soft and of medium intensity, showing a slight reduction upon opening.
It requires time to unfold, eventually revealing gentle notes of ripe
red fruit, liqueur-like cherries, orange compote, nectarine, and sweet
citrus. A perfumed background of withered flowers and fresh vanilla pod
exudes freshness. With aeration, it gains depth and a sense of aging:
creamy notes, smoky spices, gunpowder, flint, and an exquisite hint of
leaf litter and black truffle. Notably more compact and serious than the
1955 and 1964 "claretes," showing closer ties to the Reserva Especial and Vendimia Especial.
Palate:
The palate confirms its distinct character: round and concentrated yet
elegant and savory. It features firm, lively tannins and a piercing
acidity. It maintains the core profile of a Bilbaínas "clarete" but with
superior depth and detail. It gradually opens up to a greater presence
of ripe fruit, followed by classic barrel notes, spices, and toast that
echo in the aftertaste. Remarkably long; halfway between a clarete and a
Burgundian-style Rioja.
Commentary:
A grand wine that bridges the gap between ethereal lightness and structural seriousness. This 1962 shows a complexity that rivals the most prestigious labels of the house, offering a more robust and persistent experience than other historic claretes of the era.
A grand wine that bridges the gap between ethereal lightness and structural seriousness. This 1962 shows a complexity that rivals the most prestigious labels of the house, offering a more robust and persistent experience than other historic claretes of the era.
Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
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