Viña Real 1964 Reserva Especial

Wine: Viña Real 1964 Reserva Especial
Winery: CVNE - Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha
ABV: 13%
Winemaking: The wine spent 12 months in large oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before being racked for aging. It was matured for 60 months in semi-new 225-liter barrels (70% American oak, 30% French oak). Depending on the vintage, it was aged in the bottle for a period of 48 to 100 months in the winery’s underground cellars prior to its commercial release. 

 

Tasting Notes:
 

Appearance: A stunning, deep reddish-ruby with medium-high depth (capa); dense and dark. It gives the impression of being 25 years younger than its actual age. Pristine, remarkably clean, and bright, with pomegranate and orange highlights. It features a distinct copper rim that contrasts sharply with the core.

 

Nose: It is hard to believe what is in the glass. Powerful, profoundly deep, and brimming with pure black fruit and a sense of vitality rarely seen. It exudes energy, upon which a complex alchemy is built: hints of black pepper, grated cocoa, licorice, orange peel, cloves, and coffee beans. Everything is perfectly in place, without any concessions. It would be a mistake to label this as a "standard" classic Rioja or to compare it to others; this wine follows its own path and is built to outlive us all.

 

Palate: Monumental on the palate. The structure is so immense it is almost overwhelming. It features a piercing acidity and bold, firm tannins; it is broad, fresh, and strikingly cool. This wine truly earns the "Reserva Especial" (Special Reserve) designation. Special? No, extraordinary. Pure vigor and a burst of life that any modern Rioja would envy. This is one of the greatest Viña Real bottlings, perhaps the finest ever made. It deserves a place among the legendary reds of Spain and, most importantly, it will continue to evolve for a long time to come. Truly, tasting is believing.

 

Personal Score: 98
Tasting Group Score: 98