Marqués de Murrieta Etiqueta Blanca 1967

Wine: Marqués de Murrieta Etiqueta Blanca 1967

Winery: Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta (Logroño, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 50% Tempranillo, 40% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo.
ABV: [Not specified] 

Winemaking
The wine spent 12 months in large, neutral oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before racking. It was subsequently matured for 24 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barriques. Membrane-filtered before bottling. It underwent a minimum of 18 months of bottle aging in the winery’s subterranean cellars (calados) prior to its commercial release. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Translucent brownish-ruby of medium-low depth; slightly turbid with reddish and orange nuances. It features a broad, tawny (tile-red) rim. The cork was found in poor condition - saturated and fragmented. 

 

Nose: Initially displays reductive "off-aromas" with notes of lacquer, attic dust, and kerosene-like hints. Following two hours of aeration and an additional hour of decanting, the wine cleanses itself, revealing vinous oak staves, pitch, tar, ash, and black licorice (regaliz Zara). Subtle balsamic undertones of fig leaf, sage, and resin emerge. Despite a decent intensity, the bouquet is disjointed, lacking the characteristic red fruit and liqueur-like presence associated with the Etiqueta Blanca profile. It shows evident signs of fatigue and a lack of aromatic cohesion. 

 

Palate: Significantly better on the palate than on the nose. It is soft, mature, and spicy, characterized by abundant fine reductive notes and fully resolved tannins that are almost imperceptible. Approachable and caressing, showing a seamless mouthfeel. Although opened past its prime, it still retains a thread of intense acidity that provides some vitality. A correct wine that performed as expected given the notorious difficulties of the 1967 vintage. 

 

Personal Score: 82
Tasting Group Score: 84