Gran Coronas Etiqueta Negra 1973 Gran Reserva

Wine: Gran Coronas Etiqueta Negra 1973 Gran Reserva

Winery: Miguel Torres (Vilafranca del Penedès, Barcelona)
Appellation / Region: D.O. Penedès
Varietals: 80% Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo), 10% Monastrell, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 12.5%
Winemaking: Grapes sourced exclusively from a single vineyard located in Pacs del Penedès. Fermented in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures. The wine was initially aged in new French and American oak barrels for 6 months. After racking, it continued its maturation in second- or third-fill 225-liter oak barrels for an additional 12 months, eventually being bottled in mid-1976.

 

Tasting Notes:
 

Appearance: Reddish-ruby with medium-high depth (capa); noticeably darker than other vintages of the same era. Slightly turbid with some suspended particles and a somewhat lackluster finish. It features a broad copper rim that contrasts sharply with the core.

 

Nose: Aromas of medium intensity—refined and elegant. It is filled with earthy notes, shaded forest floor, and a flickering hint of bell pepper from the Cabernet that drifts in and out; the low percentage of this variety in the blend seems surprisingly expressive here. It evolves rapidly, revealing toasted and creamy nuances, black licorice, charcoal, and aromatic coffee. While it grows in power and openness, it remains slightly less elegant than its 1971 or 1975 counterparts.

 

Palate: It bears the unmistakable hallmark of the historic Torres Gran Coronas Etiqueta Negra style. Elegant, fine, and well-rounded; though the acidity is somewhat modest, the balance is excellent. The tannins are broad and warm, possessing an unusually velvety texture. It offers a significant sense of density—mature, savory, and laden with vanilla notes. The expression of balsams and high-quality bitter undertones continuously intensifies. I would not wait much longer to drink this, as it is beginning to show the first signs of fatigue.

 

Personal Score: 90
Tasting Group Score: 90

Historical Context & Background:
For the Torres family, Bordeaux wines represented the ultimate paradigm of excellence in fine winemaking. This conviction led them to champion Bordeaux varietals for the creation of their most emblematic label: Torres Gran Coronas Etiqueta Negra Gran Reserva. Between 1965 and 1966, the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted at the Mas La Plana estate.

 

The inaugural vintage, the 1970 Etiqueta Negra, achieved legendary status by triumphing at the historic 1979 Wine Olympics in Paris—the world’s premier wine competition organized by renowned gastronomes Henri Gault and Christian Millau. In a landmark moment for Spanish viticulture, this "outsider" outperformed the most prestigious Cabernet Sauvignons of the French Médoc, including icons such as Château Latour 1970, Château Pichon-Lalande 1964, and even the legendary Château La Mission Haut Brion 1961.

 

By the mid-1980s, the wine adopted its current name, Torres Mas La Plana, transitioning to a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon monovarietal. This shift marked the end of an era, as the winery moved away from the use of old-vine Tempranillo, Cariñena, and Cabernet Franc in the final blend of this historic wine.