Bodegas Bilbaínas Vendimia Especial 1964 Gran Reserva

Wine: Bodegas Bilbaínas Vendimia Especial 1964 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Bilbaínas (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha.
ABV: — (Not specified)

Winemaking

Grapes sourced entirely from the historic Finca Zaco. The wine initially remained for 18 months in large wooden vats from the winery's founding era, where it completed fermentation and stabilized before racking. It underwent between 6 to 8 years of aging in used 225-liter American oak barrels, with several manual rackings performed each year. Filtered prior to bottling. A minimum of 48 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Very light reddish-ruby color with medium-low depth; limpid and effulgent. It displays brilliant pomegranate and orange reflections. The rim is wide and tawny/brick-colored.

 

Nose: Extremely powerful and open, showing its full potential immediately without the need for aeration. This is one of those rare occasions where the wine did not require at least an hour to breathe. Clean, expressive, and mature—almost luscious—with notes of candied red fruits (strawberry tree, maraschino) and dried apricots that meld into a high-quality toasted background: cocoa powder, cedar, creamy nuances, black truffle, shaded forest floor, and peat. There is an intuitive sense of a higher Garnacha presence than the winery acknowledged at the time; perhaps in this vintage, it even stood on par with the Tempranillo. Immense personality.

 

Palate: It takes hold of the palate with commanding presence. Ample, firm, and hard-hitting, it is gifted with the acidity of a young wine and a massive amount of reduced red fruit. In some aspects, it recalls a great vintage of Murrieta's Etiqueta Blanca. Here, that sensation of generous Garnacha returns. A savory, spicy, mature, and full-bodied red. It excels in every dimension. It has reached a fantastic drinking window, and nothing suggests it will decline in the coming years.

 

Commentary

The 1964 Vendimia Especial is a testament to the longevity and character of the Finca Zaco terroir. It stands out for its remarkable preservation of fruit and its vibrant structural backbone. A wine that defies its age through a perfect balance of ripeness and acidity, showcasing a generosity of spirit that points toward an exceptional percentage of old-vine Garnacha. A truly robust Rioja that remains in peak condition.

 

Personal Score: 94
Tasting Group Average: 96