Marqués de Riscal 1999 Reserva

Wine: Marqués de Riscal 1999 Reserva

Winery: Marqués de Riscal (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo.
ABV: 12.5% vol.

Winemaking

Grapes sourced from estate-owned vineyards and long-term growers in Rioja Alavesa, with a minimum vine age of 15 years, planted on clay-limestone soils. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. The wine underwent 24 months of aging in new 225-liter American oak barrels. A minimum of 12 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars prior to its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Garnet-cherry color with medium-high depth; very opaque and dark. It displays reddish reflections with subdued brilliance and a certain sense of density. The rim is wide and orange, showing a stark contrast against the meniscus.

 

Nose: Sparse in aromas, stingy and distant; lacking even the slightest hint of the expression and evolution that the wines from this estate used to exhibit (at least in previous eras). It appears hesitant, with a level of restraint that becomes bothersome. One finds something resembling black fruit over a vanilla backdrop reminiscent of "flan-Dhul." Hollow, with nothing more to offer.

 

Palate: Even less on the palate, and worse. Short, thin, harsh, and disjointed, yet with the posturing of a "grand seigneur." It is sorely lacking in acidity, excessive in alcohol, and saturated with oak. A wine to be forgotten. I doubt it would appeal even to someone just beginning their journey into wine. The most disheartening Riscal ever tasted, and likely difficult to surpass.

 

Commentary

To bottle something like this under such a beloved label is an affront. It is a wine that fails to deliver on every front, showing an alarming lack of balance where the wood overwhelms a feeble structural core. "You can run, you can run... I'm standing at the crossroads, I believe I'm sinking down...". Better left unrated.

 

Personal Score: Unrated (Disheartening)
Tasting Group Average: Unrated