Franco-Españolas 1955 Gran Reserva

Wine: Franco-Españolas 1955 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Franco-Españolas (Logroño, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo.
ABV: — (Not specified)

Winemaking

The wine remained between 18 and 24 months in large wooden vats to complete malolactic fermentation and settle before racking. It matured for 72 to 84 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels. Fined with fresh egg whites. It underwent a minimum of 10 years of bottle aging before its commercial release. Featuring a special wax seal to ensure greater longevity and cork hygiene.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Very light ruby color with medium body; extraordinarily clean and effulgent. It displays coppery and amber reflections. The rim is extremely wide, showing no distinction from the meniscus.

 

Nose: A profound sense of ripeness. Exaggerated purity and elegance, with unparalleled brilliance. A nose that takes your breath away due to its absolute complexity and depth. Does it impress? No, it intimidates. It is like gazing into an abyss and facing the heights. There is no doubt that this is a unique bottle of the "Excelso" Gran Reserva 1955, recorked and resealed at the winery years later to be released as something precious—and it truly is. A torrent of lilac notes and remarkably fresh, spiced fruit swirls around a creamy, almost vanillic core. It possesses that long-lost, pristine expression of Franco-Españolas: well-resolved, harmonious, seamless, and serene yet full of life.

 

Palate: The first impression is one of sparkling nerve; vibrant, filled with acidulous fruit and a galloping acidity that tempers a hint of sweetness. The overall profile is longer than it is broad, barely strident due to its extreme elegance, featuring chiseled tannins. It shares many characteristics with the 1950 and 1959 "Excelso" vintages, including that impeccable classic Rioja robustness capable of surpassing decade after decade without a single wrinkle.

 

Commentary

It is hard to believe that this wine is approaching its 60th anniversary. This 1955 Gran Reserva is a structural titan that remains in a state of grace, defying the passage of time with a vitality that suggests it will outlive us all. A magnificent example of the golden era of Bodegas Franco-Españolas, where balance and longevity were achieved through meticulous traditional craftsmanship.

 

Personal Score: 97
Tasting Group Average: 96