Glorioso Cosecha Especial 1964 Gran Reserva

Wine: Glorioso Cosecha Especial 1964 Gran Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Palacio (Laguardia, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha.
ABV: — (Not specified)

Winemaking

Grapes purchased from small-scale growers in Rioja Alavesa within a 15-kilometer radius of the winery. The wine remained for one year in large wooden vats to complete fermentation and settle before racking. It matured for 24 to 36 months in old 225-liter American oak barrels. It underwent a minimum of 3 years of bottle aging in the historic cellars of the founding winery in Laguardia prior to its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Reddish-ruby color with medium body; clear. It displays amber and coppery reflections with subdued, matte brilliance. A strong sense of density, featuring wide and persistent tears. Minimal rim, entirely tawny/brick-colored. (Note: The cork was in poor condition, having disintegrated into a sawdust-like texture, yet the seal remained intact and the wine unaffected).

 

Nose: Upon opening, its striking resemblance to the 1966 Glorioso C.E. is immediate. Soft and discreet in style, it builds momentum step by step, gaining intensity and a brilliant expression of traditional Rioja: candied red fruits, English orange marmalade, old leather, vanilla, tobacco leaf, stable, and horsehair. Beautiful, complex, and fragile; it moves at a measured pace, unhurried yet steady.

 

Palate: It presents more weight and structure than expected. Serious, dry, and austere; compact yet vivid, gifted with a very interesting acidity and punch. It is a pleasure to drink, though it lacks the depth and baroque complexity required to reach the heights of the legendary 1959 Reserva Especial. Nevertheless, a great wine.

 

Commentary

The 1964 Cosecha Especial is a definitive example of the classic Alavesa style of Bodegas Palacio. Despite the precarious state of the cork, the wine inside reveals a remarkable preservation of structure and traditional character. It is a balanced and dignified red that captures the essence of a historic harvest, standing as a reliable pillar of the "Glorioso" lineage.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 94

Precio: 95 €