Wine: Viña Turzaballa 1968 Gran ReservaWinery: Bodegas Ramón Bilbao (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo.
ABV: [Not specified]
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo.
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking
Grapes sourced from the estate's finest family-owned vineyards. Hand-harvested with table selection upon arrival at the winery. The wine rested for 12 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation prior to racking. It was subsequently aged for 36 to 48 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barriques. Bottled in March 1974. A minimum of 36 months of bottle aging was completed in the winery's historic cellars (calados) on Cuevas Street in Haro before its commercial release in the late 1970s.
Grapes sourced from the estate's finest family-owned vineyards. Hand-harvested with table selection upon arrival at the winery. The wine rested for 12 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation prior to racking. It was subsequently aged for 36 to 48 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barriques. Bottled in March 1974. A minimum of 36 months of bottle aging was completed in the winery's historic cellars (calados) on Cuevas Street in Haro before its commercial release in the late 1970s.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Orange-ruby hue of medium-low depth; remarkably clear with reddish and amber glints. Clean, brilliant, and featuring a distinct tawny (tile-red) rim.
Nose:
Exceptional purity and poise; clean and showing no signs of reduction.
The oak influence is seamlessly integrated, almost ethereal—a profile
seldom found in traditional Rioja Gran Reservas. Highly perfumed and
varietal, revealing ripe red fruit, dried petals, and soft creamy notes.
Underlying mineral accents of graphite and pencil lead emerge,
supported by high-quality spices. As it breathes, it gains both power
and finesse, unveiling truffle, smoky nuances, and aromatic coffee. It
compensates for any lack of sheer force with enviable depth and
precision.
Palate:
Vibrant, refined, and elegant. It is driven by a massive acidity that
carries a surge of ripe red fruit across the palate. Broad, spicy, and
savory, yet agile and silky. The wine’s structure is sustained by this
brilliant acidity and tannins that are pure silk. It is packed with
fruit and energy—spirited, fresh, and defiant of its age. These Viña Turzaballa bottlings, produced before the 1972 sale of the winery, remain at an elite level. A wine that seems suspended in time.
Personal Score: 96
Tasting Group Score: 96
Tasting Group Score: 96
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