Wine: Martínez Lacuesta 1966 Reserva EspecialWinery: Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 5% Graciano
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking: The wine spent 18 to 24 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before being racked into barrels. It then underwent an extensive aging period of 84 to 96 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. A minimum of 3 years of bottle aging was required before its commercial release.
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 5% Graciano
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking: The wine spent 18 to 24 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before being racked into barrels. It then underwent an extensive aging period of 84 to 96 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. A minimum of 3 years of bottle aging was required before its commercial release.
Additional Information:
For years, this wine was bottled with a special label for the Spanish
Royal Household. It served as the primary wine for official state
banquets and during the travels of King Juan Carlos I.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Bright, clear brownish-ruby with an open intensity. It shows orange and amber highlights. The rim is broad and fully tawny (tile-red), with almost no distinction from the meniscus.
Nose:
Extremely elegant, direct, and clean. It starts with medium intensity
but progressively gains depth. Initially, it exudes aromas of aged
leather, fine leather goods (marroquinería),
and earthy notes (leaf litter, humus, walnut bark), underpinned by an
ultra-elegant background of fine woods like cedar and tung oil. It
continues to grow in complexity, revealing concentrated red fruit,
liqueur-like cherries, and a balsamic edge of cigar wrapper, tobacco
ash, charcoal, and Zara-style hard licorice. The intense toasted notes
are strongly reminiscent of the 1962 Reserva Especial.
Palate:
Mature and somewhat full-bodied. It remains structurally sound and
lively thanks to a striking acidity, which feels slightly wild and not
fully integrated—a surprising trait for a 1966 vintage. Powerful and
spirited, it features a toasty character and a layer of almost "wild"
herbaceous notes (bay leaf, sage) and quality bitters, all draped over a
creamy, vanilla-scented oak profile. While very pleasant to drink, it
feels somewhat unbalanced, lacking full coherence between the nose and
the palate. The finish is long and candied. This is a Martínez Lacuesta
R.E. that stands apart from others of that decade; less classic and
rounded, confirming it was a challenging vintage, though undoubtedly a
very good wine.
Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 91
Tasting Group Score: 91
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