Martínez Lacuesta 1973 Reserva Especial

Wine: Martínez Lacuesta 1973 Reserva Especial

Winery: Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 5% Graciano
ABV: 11.8%
Winemaking

The wine spent 18 to 24 months in large oak vats. It was subsequently aged for 7 to 8 years in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. A minimum of 3 years of bottle aging was completed prior to release. The bottles were traditionally wire-netted (alambrado) on-site at the Haro facilities. 

Additional Information

For years, this wine was bottled with a special label for the Spanish Royal Household. It served as the primary wine for official state banquets and during the travels of King Juan Carlos I. 

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Very pale, bright brownish-ruby with medium-low depth; pristine and luminous. It shows copper and amber highlights with a broad, tawny (tile-red) rim that merges seamlessly with the meniscus.

 

Nose: Refined, elegant, and perfumed; executed in a very classic style with traditional aging traits taken to their ultimate expression: barnyard, Russian leather, musk, faisandage, and pipe tobacco. This is built upon a high-quality earthy background (shaded forest floor, humus, walnut bark). Powerful, serious, and complex, it gains finesse and fragrance with aeration. Fragrant notes of aromatic coffee, cocoa powder, dried mushrooms, and black truffle emerge, alongside hints of ripe red fruit and sloe. 

 

Palate: Pure roundness and balance on the palate. Silky, sweet tannins are laid over a bed of high-quality wood, sage, bay leaf, fruit in liqueur, and macerated plums, with a trail of fine bitter nuances and spices. Long, savory, and exceedingly elegant. A Martínez Lacuesta that truly earns its "Reserva Especial" designation. 

 

Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 92