Tres Marqueses 4º Año 1970

Wine: Tres Marqueses 4º Año 1970
Winery: Bodegas Franco-Españolas (Logroño, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 50% Tempranillo, 40% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking

The wine spent 12 months in large vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before racking. It was aged for 24 to 36 months (depending on the vintage) in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. A minimum of 24 months of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars was completed prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Luminous, very pale brownish-ruby with medium-low depth; bright. It shows copper and reddish highlights. The rim is broad and fully tawny (tile-red), merging indistinguishably with the meniscus.

 

Nose: Charming and powerful, offering a series of sweet notes: cola candy, citrus, English orange marmalade, and a background of pastry and ultra-fine vanilla. Open and toasty, it leaves a trail of toasted cocoa and ripe red fruit (cherries in liqueur, sun-dried tomatoes, withered flowers), with almost no classic Riojan aging traits. Its profile inevitably recalls the Rioja Bordón Cosecha Especial 1970. One wonders if they are the same wine marketed under different labels. It continues to evolve, revealing spices and an earthy background of leaf litter and walnut bark. Intense, solid, and well-structured.

 

Palate: On the palate, it is driven by a striking acidity—light, fresh, and very lively. It is incredibly easy to drink; savory, with toasted flashes alongside juicy fruit and mature tannins. It shows great balance and smoothness without sacrificing that particular energy characteristic of the Logroño winery. A simple yet brilliant red that has reached the present day with its vitality fully intact. Very much in the historic style of Bodegas Franco-Españolas that is so deeply missed in their current lineup. Just one question remains: who were those Three Marqueses?

 

Personal Score: 90
Tasting Group Score: 90