Wine: Viña Pomal 1966 Gran ReservaWinery: Bodegas Bilbaínas (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 65% Tempranillo, 35% Garnacha.
ABV: — (Not specified)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 65% Tempranillo, 35% Garnacha.
ABV: — (Not specified)
Winemaking
The wine spends 12 months in large, seasoned oak vats to complete fermentation and stabilize before racking. It is then aged in used 225-liter American oak barrels for a period of 6 to 7 years. Manual rackings (trasiegos) are performed every 6 to 9 months to avoid the need for filtration before bottling. Traditional clarification with fresh egg whites is carried out prior to bottling. It rests for a minimum of four years in the cellar before its commercial release.
The wine spends 12 months in large, seasoned oak vats to complete fermentation and stabilize before racking. It is then aged in used 225-liter American oak barrels for a period of 6 to 7 years. Manual rackings (trasiegos) are performed every 6 to 9 months to avoid the need for filtration before bottling. Traditional clarification with fresh egg whites is carried out prior to bottling. It rests for a minimum of four years in the cellar before its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Pale brownish-ruby color of medium-low depth; clear and clean, with a
very fine sediment at the base of the bottle. It shows reddish and
coppery reflections with limited brilliance and a wide, tawny rim.
Nose:
Fully open and ready to be enjoyed. It initially presents a perfumed,
spirituous note of maraschino cherries and morello cherries, followed by
an array of off-dry characters: macerated red fruits, candied orange
peel, vanilla, and an exquisite backdrop of old leather, cigar box,
toasted nuances, and cocoa powder. This is an unreserved, highly
expressive, and creamy bouquet. As it sits, the classic aging notes
strengthen, accompanied by a subtle, fleeting hint of faisandage.
Palate:
Pure smoothness; velvety on the palate. Highly mature, generous, and
spiced, it features an enveloping acidity and an overwhelming amount of
reduced red fruit. The tannins are fine and nearly imperceptible. This
is a wine of immense balance that appears to have reached its absolute
peak.
Commentary
A magnificent Pomal from the 1966 vintage—a year as irregular as it was great. During this era, Bodegas Bilbaínas produced an extensive range of brands in various classic styles, all reliable, solid, and possessing great aging potential. This bottling is a prime example of that consistency. It captures the essence of Haro’s history in a glass.
A magnificent Pomal from the 1966 vintage—a year as irregular as it was great. During this era, Bodegas Bilbaínas produced an extensive range of brands in various classic styles, all reliable, solid, and possessing great aging potential. This bottling is a prime example of that consistency. It captures the essence of Haro’s history in a glass.
Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
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