Viña Albina 1975 Reserva

Wine: Viña Albina 1975 Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Riojanas (Cenicero, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 2% Graciano, 3% others (Viura and local varieties)
ABV: [Not specified]
Winemaking

The wine settled for 12 months in old 20,000-liter oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation before being racked for wood aging. It was matured for 24 to 30 months in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. Partially filtered before bottling in late 1979. A minimum of 24 months of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars was completed prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes:
 

Appearance: Very pale, brownish-ruby with medium-low depth (capa). It shows reddish and amber highlights; pristine and free of any sediment. The rim is broad and fully tawny (tile-red).

 

Nose: Good aromatic intensity, refined and slightly reductive, offering notes of nut shells, toasted cocoa, aromatic coffee, and a growing presence of fruit in liqueur. Elegant and mature, it features toasty and creamy nuances over a background of shaded undergrowth (monte umbrío), humus, and walnut bark.

 

Palate: It is on the palate where this wine shines with full intensity. Elegant, fresh, and high-toned (acídulo), it is remarkably round with velvety tannins. Surprisingly, it has shed almost all oak influence, offering abundant mature fruit wrapped in a wonderful citrus-driven acidity. Highly drinkable and enjoyable, though perhaps lacking a bit of depth compared to other Viña Albina vintages from the same decade. It possesses the "punch" and vitality characteristic of most 1975s. A fine example of the high average quality displayed by Bodegas Riojanas' Reservas during the 1970s.

 

Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Score: 93