Viña Real 1949 Gran Reserva

Wine: Viña Real 1949 Gran Reserva
Winery: CVNE - Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo and Viura.
ABV: — (Not specified)

Winemaking

Extensive aging in ancient wooden vats until the completion of malolactic fermentation, followed by settling in the same vessels before wood aging. The wine matured for 12 to 13 years (specific winery data unavailable) in used 225-liter American oak barrels. Unfiltered. Bottled in June 1963. Depending on the vintage, it rested between 48 and 100 months in the bottle. Re-bottled and hand-sealed with wax in August 2011 in the winery's cellars. Relabeled as Gran Reserva despite being originally marketed as Reserva Especial.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Garnet-ruby color with medium-high depth; remarkably clean and opaque. It displays reddish and pomegranate reflections with a marked sense of youth. The rim is narrow and orange.

 

Nose: An impressive nose. Powerful and elegant, standing among the finest of Viña Real. Initially, it unfolds with resounding strength, bold and unreserved. There are strokes of a firm and well-ordered Rioja; layers of finesse meld into a fabulous patina of cedar and exotic woods. A subtle toastiness emerges, bringing memories of freshly ground coffee, the finest cocoa butter imaginable, and a backdrop of old leather and Virginia tobacco. It maintains a high and steady tone throughout—composed and very serious. Relentless.

 

Palate: More accessible on the palate with, fortunately, less "punch" than one might expect. Light and fresh, yet well-armed and gifted with a structure and tannins finer than silk. Its intense acidity balances any potential flaw. It is tense, vivid, and fibrous; absolutely savory and persistent to the point of being "boring"—there is simply no way to shake it off. A Viña Real that has nothing to envy from the 1950 vintage.

 

Commentary

The 1949 Gran Reserva is a masterpiece that should serve as a blueprint for modern Rioja. Its extraordinary preservation—bolstered by the 2011 re-bottling—showcases the legendary longevity of the Alavesa-sourced fruit of that era. It is a "monumental" wine that balances raw power with ethereal silkiness, proving that nearly 70 years of life can result in a state of absolute grandeur.

 

Personal Score: 98
Tasting Group Average: 99