Rioja Glorioso 1970 Gran Reserva

Wine: Rioja Glorioso 1970 Gran Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Palacio (Laguardia, Álava)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja (Rioja Alavesa)
Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking

Grapes purchased from small-scale growers in Rioja Alavesa within a 15-kilometer radius of the winery. The wine spent one year in large oak vats to complete fermentation and settle before wood aging. It was matured for 30 to 36 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. A minimum of 3 years of bottle aging in the original foundational cellars in Laguardia was completed prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Very stable in color; reddish-ruby with medium depth (capa). It shows copper highlights and is bright, with a slight presence of sediment at the base of the bottle. The rim is broad and orange-toned.

 

Nose: Upon opening, it appears austere, lean in aromas, and somewhat sullen; it struggles to open, though it is free of defects or excessive reduction. It requires about half an hour to reveal a beautiful patina of wine-soaked oak, upon which notes of clove, bay leaf, vanilla, and charcoal are built, alongside a trace of highly concentrated red fruit preserves. Immovable and severe, it carries the air of a grand wine.

 

Palate: None of the restraint suggested by the nose is present on the palate. This is a red of a very spirited (nervioso) character, driven by a strong acidity and firm tannins that could even be described as prominent and yet to be polished. It overflows with vigor and energy. Expansive, concentrated, and earthy; filled with spices and a subtle vegetal-bitter edge (Zara-style hard licorice, flint) that extends the finish indefinitely. It possesses immense charm and the hallmark of the great 1970 vintage. This wine, like many of the historic Rioja Alavesa reds, did not rely on excessive oak; they were bottled at their peak, full of life, intended to refine over decades in the bottle. This is a perfect example: a faithful reflection of the viticulture of that era. The extreme austerity of Palacio’s Glorioso Gran Reserva represents the opposite side of the coin to their consistently refined Cosecha Especial, which leans closer to the "clarete" style. Regardless, both are excellent wines from the period before the Domecq family and the Seagram distributor took over, dating back to when the Palacio family still owned the business.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Score: 92

Imagen de los edificios originarios de Bodegas Palacio, rodeados de viñedos, fotografiados desde la carretera a Elciego.