Wine: Marqués de Riscal 1938 ReservaWinery: Marqués de Riscal (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 55% Tempranillo, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: [Not specified]
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 55% Tempranillo, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
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:
Ruby-garnet of medium depth; clear, bright, and clean. It displays
pomegranate and orange highlights with a narrow reddish rim that shows
marked contrast against the meniscus.
Nose:
Following the lineage of Riscal’s greatest vintages, this wine belies
its 70-plus years of age, showing remarkable color stability and the
freshness of a red three or four decades younger. The bouquet is
perfumed, light, and elegant, with notes of red fruit preserves, sour
cherry, sun-dried tomato, withered petals, and a delicate, beautiful
earthy backdrop. The oak is seamlessly melted into the ensemble—subtle,
with minimal toast and a hint of aromatic coffee. Elegant and deep. As
it breathes, it becomes increasingly spiced (peppercorns, clove, smoke),
revealing aromas of black truffle, bay leaf, morels,
wet earth, porcini mushrooms, noble woods, and English tobacco. Open
and showing no signs of fatigue, it continues to gain intensity and
presence.
Palate:
Impeccable integrity and remarkable vibrancy. It combines great finesse
with concentration and a pronounced, refreshing acidity. This
citrus-driven acidity carries ripe, slightly sweet fruit and notes of
traditional "Aragonese" fruit candies. Everything is in its
place—refined, orderly, and rounded—with an aristocratic expression that
never loses its "nervio" or energy. The finish is long and jammy, with a
piquant aftertaste and an endless acidity. A true, unforgettable
Riscal.
Personal Score: 96
Tasting Group Score: 96
Tasting Group Score: 96
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