Winery: Marqués de Riscal (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Tempranillo
ABV: [Not specified]
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Tempranillo
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking
The blend includes a negligible percentage of white varietals (primarily Viura), as it was customary at the time to plant a few white vines at the head of the rows for family consumption, which were ultimately harvested and processed alongside the red grapes. The wine was aged for 5 to 7 years in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. Regular rackings were performed every three months during the first three years to avoid the need for filtration prior to bottling. Clarified through traditional methods using fresh egg whites and bottled by hand directly from the cask.
The blend includes a negligible percentage of white varietals (primarily Viura), as it was customary at the time to plant a few white vines at the head of the rows for family consumption, which were ultimately harvested and processed alongside the red grapes. The wine was aged for 5 to 7 years in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. Regular rackings were performed every three months during the first three years to avoid the need for filtration prior to bottling. Clarified through traditional methods using fresh egg whites and bottled by hand directly from the cask.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Spectacular color for a wine nearing its centenary. Brownish-ruby of
medium-high depth; slightly cloudy with tiny suspended particles. It
displays orange and reddish highlights with a brick-colored rim and
marked contrast against the meniscus.
Nose:
The bottles were opened two hours before serving. It reveals great
concentration and fine reduction, with a volatile acidity note that flickers in and out. Initially, and without swirling, notes of old leather wineskins,
seasoned staves, dried mushrooms, and incense emerge. Upon aeration, it
transforms: sage, Egyptian tea, ripe sloes, sour cherry in liqueur,
scorched oak, flint, meat, smoke, bay leaf, clove, and assorted spices.
It continues to evolve, revealing sweetish red and black fruit,
caramelized sugar, and a curious reminiscence of an ultra-aged Modena
balsamic vinegar (Extra Oro type). Exceptional quality and intensity.
Palate:
It transfixes the palate with its freshness and a breadth more typical
of a massive infrastructure. A wine in its prime; forceful acidity,
incredibly vibrant and vigorous, with a structure that is more "wiry" than muscular, refined over decades in the bottle. Everything has found
its rightful place—integrated and spherical. It continues to come alive
with oxygen, unveiling more ripe fruit with a citrus edge, spices,
subtle bitters, toasted notes, and vanilla. A resplendent red whose age
would be impossible to believe if not for that unusual acetic note.
Another testament to the gargantuan magnitude of historic Riscal.
Personal Score: 97
Tasting Group Score: 99
Tasting Group Score: 99
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