Cerro Añón 1973

Wine: Cerro Añón 1973
Winery: Bodegas Olarra (Logroño, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo, 5% Graciano
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking

The wine settled for 12 months in vats to complete fermentation and stabilize before racking. It was aged for 18 to 24 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels with an average age of 10 years. Bottled in late 1976. A minimum of 12 months of bottle aging was completed prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Dark, medium-high depth (capa) brownish-ruby; clean. It shows reddish and amber highlights. The rim is broad and orange-toned, contrasting sharply with the core. 

 

Nose: Initially closed and low in intensity, offering shy notes of seasoned, wine-soaked staves alongside "Zara" style hard licorice and a toasted-vegetal hint. It struggles to open, so we allowed it to aerate for two hours. Subsequently, creamy nuances and vanilla emerge, followed by a disconcerting oscillation between classic aging traits (barnyard, wet fur, aged leather) and an array of oriental spices: turmeric, cloves, incense, and sandalwood. The wine evolves constantly, becoming cleaner and fresher. A very pleasant, perfumed expression of Tempranillo arises, reminiscent of petals and withered flowers, over a background hint of graphite. 

 

Palate: Full-bodied and dry on the palate; concentrated, with bitter notes (vaguely reminiscent of Cabernet), pronounced tannins, and initially aggressive toasted nuances. It follows the same evolutionary path as the nose: rounding out slowly, becoming creamier, with fruit that sweetens and expresses itself without haste. Mature, vanilla-scented, and lively, driven by a striking acidity. It is remarkably easy to drink. This was the first Cerro Añón produced in the "Cathedral of Rioja," as the company dubbed the spectacular winery designed by architect Juan Antonio Ridruejo. Theoretically a "lesser" wine—the house's Crianza—it has delivered far more than expected. Packed with minute details and surprises, it is a wine of constant flux. One can sense the hand of Ezequiel García, who was the winemaker at CVNE for nearly 20 years. 

 

Personal Score: 88
Tasting Group Score: 88