Campo Burgo 1964 Gran Reserva

Wine: Campo Burgo 1964 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas de la Torre y Lapuerta S.A. - Campo Burgo (Alfaro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking: The entirety of the production was sourced from third-party growers; 50% as finished wine from Rioja Alavesa and the remainder as grapes (85% from Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa). The wine spent 12 months in large oak vats to complete fermentation and stabilize before racking. It was aged in used 225-liter American oak barrels for 24 to 36 months, followed by a period of 6 to 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes:
 

Appearance: Pale, brownish-ruby with medium-low depth (capa). It appears lackluster and matte, showing no brightness. The rim is broad and fully tawny (tile-red).

 

Nose: Low intensity and muted, lacking both depth and detail. We allowed it to breathe for a couple of hours and even decanted it (an exceptional measure for us) in an attempt to coax more character from it. Only faint notes of toast and seasoned, wine-soaked old wood emerged, alongside oxidative solera and rancid nuances. There is not even a trace of fruit. Very underwhelming.

 

Palate: Significantly better on the palate than on the nose. Mature, light-bodied, with modest acidity and polished tannins. There is a subtle hint of sweetness, caramel, and little else. While drinkable, it offers nothing noteworthy. A simple red from one of Rioja’s largest bulk producers of the era. To date, none of their wines have been worth documenting. If this mass-produced 1964 Gran Reserva represents the winery's pinnacle, there is little more to be said. A dispensable, thin, and insubstantial "viejuno" that recalls the old wines of La Mancha from that period.

 

Personal Score: 80
Tasting Group Score: 83