Campo Burgo 1982 Reserva

Wine: Campo Burgo 1982 Reserva
Winery: Bodegas de la Torre y Lapuerta S.A. - Campo Burgo (Alfaro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha.
ABV: 12% vol. 

Winemaking

The entirety of the wine was sourced from third-party producers: 50% purchased as finished wine from Rioja Alavesa and the remainder as grapes (85% from Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa). The wine remained for 12 months in large wooden vats to complete fermentation and stabilize before racking. It matured in used 225-liter American oak barrels for 24 to 36 months. It underwent between 6 and 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars prior to its commercial release. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Coppery-ruby color with medium-low depth; very clear, opaque, and lacking brilliance. The rim is exceptionally wide and entirely tawny/brick-colored. 

 

Nose: Somewhat sluggish on the nose, failing to awaken with aeration—if anything, the opposite occurs. Initially, there is a faint note of toffee and something resembling candied quince, with a backdrop of citrus peel and a shy hint of sage. As it takes in air, it thins out, losing almost all the aforementioned traits and leaving a profile dominated only by chimney-like toasted notes and spices, specifically clove.

 

Palate: It feels very tight on the palate, though still alive. Slender, weightless, somewhat neutral, and insipid, with a lingering acidity that keeps it "in the ICU." Rather dull but drinkable, showing no signs of poor winemaking—which is rare for Campo Burgo from this era. It passes for now, but it is unlikely to survive the coming years. 

 

Commentary

The 1982 Reserva is a wine fatigued by the passage of time, one that never truly aspired to age this far. While it manages to stay sound, it lacks the structural core and aromatic depth required for a compelling experience. It is a modest red that has reached its limit, surviving more by chance than by design.

 

Personal Score: 82
Tasting Group Average: 80