Azpilicueta 1975 Gran Reserva

Wine: Azpilicueta 1975 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Félix Azpilicueta Martínez - AGE Bodegas Unidas (Fuenmayor, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Mazuelo, 10% Graciano.
ABV: 12.5%
Winemaking

A bespoke production by Félix Azpilicueta for Bodegas AGE, sourced from a selection of the estate's oldest Tempranillo vineyards. The wine spent 12 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before racking. It was matured for 36 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. A minimum of 48 months of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars was completed prior to its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: A clear, pristine reddish-ruby of medium depth. Notably darker and more concentrated than the winery’s usual benchmark, the Marqués del Romeral 1975 GR. It displays vibrant amber highlights and a broad copper rim that stands in sharp contrast to the core.

 

Nose: Upon opening, the nose is high-powered and intense: spice-forward (clove, black pepper) with notes of licorice, prominent toast, charcoal, tar, and burnt coffee over a balsamic backdrop. It is somewhat unyielding and requires at least ninety minutes of decanting to unfurl. Once open, it reveals a high-quality Tempranillo—profound, fragrant, and dark-fruited. It is brimming with nuances of sloe in liqueur, orange zest biscuits, withered petals, and sun-dried tomatoes. Compared to the Marqués del Romeral bottlings of the same era, this wine exhibits superior expression and complexity. There is a notable absence of traditional Riojan oxidative traits, showing instead subtle hints of damp earth and humus. A red of a "modern" persuasion, so to speak.

 

Palate: On the palate, the wine is concentrated, seamless, and fluid, supported by silky tannins. Extremely elegant and possessing immense "grip". There is an extraordinary amount of reduced fruit and coiled energy, reflecting the profound influence of the vintage on these aged wines. At times spirited, at others remarkably smooth; it is expansive and enveloping, with significant weight and concentration. A very rare Gran Reserva, nearly impossible to source today. This extremely limited edition once represented the historical pinnacle of quality for Bodegas AGE. The masterful hand of Félix Azpilicueta is evident throughout.

 

Personal Score: 94
Tasting Group Score: 94