La Rioja Alta 1973 Gran Reserva - Edición Centenario: 1890 - 1990

Wine: La Rioja Alta 1973 Gran Reserva (Edición Centenario 1890-1990)

Winery: La Rioja Alta S.A. (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo; 15% Mazuelo, Graciano, and Viura
ABV: 12.4%

Viticulture
A portion of the Tempranillo was sourced from the estate's oldest vineyards in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, primarily from the municipalities of Ollauri, Rodezno, and Cenicero. The Mazuelo and Graciano came from the Melchorón I and II estates in Briones and Rodezno. The remaining grapes were purchased from local growers’ premier plots (majuelos), under strict criteria: no white grape blending and a natural sugar content sufficient to reach a minimum of 12% alcohol.

Winemaking
The wine spent 24 months in the winery’s foundational century-old large oak vats (of "grey wood"), where it completed malolactic fermentation and stabilized. It was then aged for 10 years (120 months) in seasoned American oak barrels with an average age of 18 to 20 years. A total of 20 manual rackings were performed (two per year) to remove sediment and allow for gentle aeration. Bottled in mid-1986. It rested for a minimum of 42 months in the historic cellars (calados) of Haro prior to its commercial release. This special selection was crafted specifically to commemorate the winery's 100th anniversary, with a label honoring the estate's ancestral designs.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Brownish-ruby of medium body; exceptionally clear with reddish highlights. Bright and clean, showing an orange rim with almost no variation against the meniscus.

 

Nose: Medium intensity with an intriguing profile—stylistically positioned between a Viña Ardanza and a 904 Gran Reserva. Deeply classical and recognizable. It offers hints of red fruit preserves, dried orange peel, cocoa powder, and sour cherry in liqueur, backed by seasoned wood, varnish, and vanilla. It gradually expands, gaining classical Riojan expression: cigar box, roasted notes, Russian birch, old leather, and noble animal nuances (wet hair, horsehair, faisandage). Serious and uncompromising. It features a rich tertiary profile and an ultra-elegant reduction (smoke, pepper, leaf litter) that grows to dominate the foreground.

 

Palate: Exceptional roundness and smoothness. A poised wine that relies entirely on balance. The tannins are as fine as pearls, seamlessly strung into a vibrant and spirited acidity. Savory and energetic, it is filled with fruit preserves, an interesting hint of sweetness, and high-quality creamy toasted notes.

 

Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 92