Conde de la Salceda 1987 Gran Reserva

Wine: Conde de la Salceda 1987 Gran Reserva
Winery: Viña Salceda (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano.
ABV: 12.5% 

Winemaking
Grapes sourced from estate vineyards and various producers in Rioja Alavesa. The wine spent 12 months in vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before wood aging. It was subsequently racked into French and American oak barriques, where it matured for 30 months. A minimum of 36 months of bottle aging was completed in the winery’s subterranean cellars (calados) prior to its commercial release. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Intense reddish hue of medium depth; brilliant and clean. It displays garnet and amber glints with a broad, tawny (tile-red) rim. 

 

Nose: A powerhouse, potent and open, dominated by an overwhelming presence of oak and vanillic staves, alongside dairy and creamy nuances. The abundance of wood and spices (clove, smoked pepper) is so pervasive that it initially masks other components. Following ninety minutes of decanting, the bouquet unfurls to reveal toasted notes, charcoal, and hearth smoke, with a timid emergence of leather, English tobacco, and sweet spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

 

Palate: Soft and medium-bodied with fully melted tannins. It presents a poised and approachable ensemble that is easy to drink. It maintains a more than correct acidity but is heavily marked by its oak aging. While still in good condition, it begins to show signs of fatigue and a certain "flattening" due to age. A reliable and placid red, showing no structural flaws but lacking the additional layer of complexity found in top-tier aged wines. Excessive oak influence (vanilla and spice). Correct.

 

Personal Score: 85
Tasting Group Score: 85