Viña Montebro 1971 Blanco

Wine: Viña Montebro 1971 Blanco
Winery: Bodegas Entrena (Alto Ebro, Navarra)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 100% Viura
ABV: 11.5%
Winemaking

Fermentation took place in large oak vats and concrete tanks, where the wine remained for 3 to 6 months. It was then racked into seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels for an aging period of 12 to 15 months. A minimum of 12 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars was completed prior to release.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Luminous and lively golden yellow. It shows bright amber and orange highlights. There is a great sense of viscosity, featuring huge, permanent legs (tears).

 

Nose: Low intensity; it requires aeration to gain power, though it shows no reductive off-odors or defects. It refines very slowly, revealing a good amount of candied white fruit, quince, roasted apple, nuts, and bitter almond, supported by a very subtle vanilla background. While not excessively complex, it is clean and pleasant. The oak influence eventually moves to the forefront, offering notes of wet wood, creamy nuances, and sweet spices.

 

Palate: Still alive on the palate, though it has entered a challenging phase of its evolution. It retains sufficient acidity and a good amount of ripe white fruit—slightly liqueur-like—with toasted and bitter sensations. Lacking significant depth or relief, it remains reliable and technically sound. It would likely have been a completely different wine 5 or 10 years ago. An intriguing white that illustrates the difficulties of the 1971 vintage.

 

Personal Score: 85
Tasting Group Score: 87