Castillo de Cuzcurrita 1970

Wine: Castillo de Cuzcurrita 1970
Winery: Bodegas Castillo de Cuzcurrita (Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Viura
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking

 This marks the winery’s second vintage. All grapes were purchased from local growers. The clusters were not destemmed, only lightly crushed, and fermented in white-painted concrete tanks. Upon completion of alcoholic fermentation, the wine remained in fiberglass tanks for 9 to 12 months to undergo malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It was then racked into 225-liter American oak barrels—most of which were sourced from the Jerez region due to a shortage of casks in La Rioja at the time. The wine aged for 30 to 36 months with one manual racking (trasiego) per year. It underwent plate filtration two or three times and was bottled in mid-1975. Limited production of 30,917 bottles (75 cl) from 103 barrels. A minimum of 24 months of bottle aging was completed prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Very pale, slightly brownish-ruby with medium-low depth (capa). It displays copper and amber highlights. The rim is broad and tawny (tile-red), merging seamlessly with the meniscus.

 

Nose: Medium intensity—austere, direct, and without great artifice, yet remarkably intact. Notes of vanilla, wine-soaked oak, toast, and licorice stand out over a background of highly concentrated red fruit preserves, accompanied by spicy hints and a balsamic touch. It gains smoothness and greater expressiveness as it breathes. Simple yet effective.

 

Palate: On the palate, it is a red with striking acidity—fleshy and concentrated, featuring firm, pronounced tannins. Mature and ready to drink. This is an early-era Castillo de Cuzcurrita that has successfully withstood the test of time. Along with Señorío de Cuzcurrita and Conde de Alacha, it was part of the Sáinz de Incháustegui family’s project to revitalize the historic "lands of bread and wine" surrounding the magnificent castle of Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón.

 

Personal Score: 86
Tasting Group Score: 88