Marqués del Romeral 1962 Gran Reserva

Wine: Marqués del Romeral 1962 Gran Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Félix Azpilicueta Martínez - AGE Bodegas Unidas (Fuenmayor, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 50% Tempranillo, 35% Garnacha, 15% Mazuelo
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking

The wine spent 24 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before racking. It underwent an aging period of 60 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels with an average age of 12 years. Bottled in February 1970. It was aged in the bottle for a minimum of 60 months in the winery’s underground cellars prior to its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Bright, clear ruby with medium depth (capa); luminous and pristine with reddish and copper highlights. It features a broad, tawny (tile-red) rim with little distinction from the meniscus.

 

Nose: Somewhat "sleepy" (legañoso) upon opening, initially showing notes of ground pepper, burnt coffee, and a trace of "Zara" style hard licorice. The balsamic nuances (sage, bay leaf, ivy) gradually soften to reveal a significant amount of concentrated red fruit—liqueur-like—accompanied by ultra-fine vanilla toast and hints of dried flowers in the background. It evolves remarkably, adopting the air of a quintessential Rioja classic: Russian leather, tung oil, orange zest biscuits, and seasoned staves, while simultaneously gaining weight, volume, and precision. Fully intact!

 

Palate: Fleshy and concentrated on the palate, with tannins that are polished yet lively. The ensemble is perfectly integrated, and one can easily recognize the signature hand of Félix Azpilicueta. This Marqués del Romeral benefits immensely from the high percentage of Garnacha that historically characterized all the wines from AGE Bodegas Unidas. This variety gradually disappeared from their blends until its final eradication in the 1970s, giving greater prominence to Tempranillo and completing the assembly with Graciano.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Score: 95