Wine: Viña Real 1982 ReservaWinery: Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 10% Mazuelo.
ABV: 13% vol.
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 10% Mazuelo.
ABV: 13% vol.
Winemaking
The wine spent 12 months in vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before undergoing oak aging. It matured for 36 months in semi-seasoned 225-liter barrels (70% American oak and 30% French oak). Bottled in the spring of 1987. Depending on the vintage, it rested for between 36 and 60 months in the winery’s cellar prior to its commercial release in the early 1990s.
The wine spent 12 months in vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before undergoing oak aging. It matured for 36 months in semi-seasoned 225-liter barrels (70% American oak and 30% French oak). Bottled in the spring of 1987. Depending on the vintage, it rested for between 36 and 60 months in the winery’s cellar prior to its commercial release in the early 1990s.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Reddish-ruby color of medium-high depth; darker and more opaque than
preceding vintages. It shows brilliant garnet and coppery reflections.
The orange rim stands out distinctly against the meniscus. Thick,
persistent legs.
Nose:
Good intensity, gaining presence by the second. This wine takes flight
with every breath of air. Ample, mature, and generous, it releases a
surge of reduced red fruit on the nose—sun-dried tomato, pomegranate,
morello cherries, and bitter orange marmalade. All of this is supported
by a backdrop of leaf litter and earthy tones. Powerful and increasingly
expressive of its classic aging, it reveals soft notes of blonde
tobacco, withered petals, clove, Russian leather, and old bookbindings,
with a subtle mineral hint of flint (pedernal) and silica. More vivid than elegant or rounded, very much in the character of the 1982 vintage.
Palate:
Currently at its peak. Fresh, crisp, and nervous, it is filled with
notes of tart and spicy fruit accompanied by high-quality bitter
nuances. It mirrors the nose in its vivacity, maintaining a high level
of acidity and fine but firm tannins. These elements form a red in peak
condition that has lost neither weight nor muscle. It remains to be seen
if it will hold this state or eventually mellow.
Commentary
An excellent CVNE from a period when the technical differences between the Reserva and Gran Reserva bottlings were minimal. Nevertheless, to be honest, there is still a significant distance separating it from the extraordinary and exceedingly rare 1982 Viña Real Gran Reserva. While CVNE wines may never be exactly what they once were, occasions like this demonstrate they can still shine at a very high level.
An excellent CVNE from a period when the technical differences between the Reserva and Gran Reserva bottlings were minimal. Nevertheless, to be honest, there is still a significant distance separating it from the extraordinary and exceedingly rare 1982 Viña Real Gran Reserva. While CVNE wines may never be exactly what they once were, occasions like this demonstrate they can still shine at a very high level.
Personal Score: 91
Tasting Group Average: 90
Tasting Group Average: 90
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