Viña Pomal 1969 Gran Reserva

Wine: Viña Pomal 1969 Gran Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Bilbaínas (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha.
ABV: — (Not specified)

Winemaking

The wine remained for 1 year in large wooden vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before racking. It matured for between 6 and 7 years in used 225-liter American oak barrels, with two manual rackings performed each year. Fined prior to bottling. It underwent a minimum of 8 years of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars prior to its commercial release. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Very light brownish-ruby color with medium-low depth; slightly turbid and grainy due to a very fine sediment. Matte, lacking brilliance, with shy coppery and orange reflections. Wide, tawny/brick-colored rim. It shows a certain appearance of fatigue.

 

Nose: A mature and settled Pomal, classical in style, featuring an array of creamy oak notes and sweet spices: vanilla and nutmeg. Toasted nuances and a trace of highly reduced red fruit emerge, supported by black licorice, chimney soot, charcoal, and tobacco leaf.

 

Palate: Fresh and acidulous on the palate, with mature tannins—all under an intense acidity that lightens the overall profile. Very pleasant to drink and spicy; while it lacks excessive weight, it possesses notable solidity.

 

Commentary

The 1969 Gran Reserva is an exceedingly rare Pomal from a vintage where mostly minor wines (such as 3º or 4º Año) are usually found. This light and approachable style demonstrates the high standards Bodegas Bilbaínas maintained during the 1960s and 70s. Following the excellent impressions left by the Reserva from the same harvest a few weeks ago, this Gran Reserva confirms that 1969 was a vintage capable of surprising elegance in the right hands.

 

Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92