Honorable Gómez Cruzado 1964 Gran Reserva

Wine: Honorable Gómez Cruzado Gran Reserva 1964

Winery: Bodegas Gómez Cruzado (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 65% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo and Graciano.
ABV: [Not specified]

Winemaking
Grapes sourced from estate vineyards, local smallholders, and selected parcels of vinified wine. Fermentation was completed in large oak vats, where the wine rested for 24 months for stabilization and malolactic fermentation prior to racking. It underwent an extensive élevage of 60 months in neutral American oak barriques, with two traditional manual rackings performed annually. Bottled directly from the barrel in mid-1972. It rested for a minimum of 3 years in the winery's historic cellars (calados) in Haro’s Railway Station District before its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Brownish-ruby hue of medium-high depth; darker and more extracted than typical for its age. It shows amber glints and a broad, tawny (tile-red) rim with a distinct transition to the meniscus.

 

Nose: Powerful, expressive, and extroverted. It opens with notes of vinous oak staves, noble wood, and a profound earthy character: forest floor, dried mushrooms, and fine leather. A textbook traditional Rioja Gran Reserva. Evolving and multifaceted, it gains layers of incense, sweet spices, and a persistent balsamic lift of sage and ivy. Mature, sun-drenched fruit emerges alongside cocoa powder, solera nuances, toffee, and caramelized hints. Truly sophisticated.

 

Palate: Concentrated, bone-dry, and impeccably balanced. It is currently at its peak, offering a silken mouthfeel. The palate reveals traces of reduced black fruit, black licorice (regaliz Zara), and high-quality bitter nuances, underpinned by a sweet, gourmand vanilla finish. Still remarkably vibrant and full of life. An outstanding "fine wine" (tinto fino) that drinks with immense pleasure.

 

Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 92