Palacio de Arganza 1967 Blanco Gran Reserva

Wine: Palacio de Arganza 1967 Blanco Gran Reserva
Winery: Palacio de Arganza (Villafranca del Bierzo, León)
Appellation / Region: No D.O. (Vino de Mesa)
Varietals: Viura and various local varieties from the León region.
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking

Hand-harvested. Vinified for 6 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before racking. The wine underwent an extensive aging period of 72 to 84 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels handcrafted in the winery's own cooperage. Bottled in a 70-cl Rhine-style bottle in June 1975. A minimum of 24 months of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars was completed prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Nothing suggests this is a white wine with over 40 years of age. It presents a slightly intense yellow color—clean and bright, without sediment—showing orange and copper highlights. Broad legs (tears) and a marked sense of density.

 

Nose: Soft and clean on the nose, yet powerful. It offers an abundance of balsamic notes, gunpowder, and herbal infusions (rockrose tea, green tea leaves), over a floral background of chamomile stalks, fennel, star anise, and withered flowers. Nuances of Spanish broom, acacia honey, and fenugreek also emerge. It gains power and depth, revealing stone and pip fruit with a fresh accent reminiscent of loquats and bitter orange marmalade. Elegant and expressive.

 

Palate: Dry and somewhat full-bodied on the palate, endowed with an extraordinary acidity. It sparkles with life and energy—spirited, savory, and intense. It does not taste like a typical Spanish wine from that era. While it shares the long-aging tradition of Rioja, it differs significantly from the usual profile of those wines; far removed from the Tondonia Gran Reservas, the Metropol Extra from La Rioja Alta, or the old Murrieta Reservas. Its closest analogues would be a Viña Soledad Tête de Cuvée Blanco Reserva or a Monopole Crianza from the late 1970s. A white of immense longevity that has barely evolved over the years thanks to its freshness and superb acidity. Unique and high in quality.

 

Personal Score: 94
Tasting Group Score: 94