Siglo Etiqueta Verde 1961 Blanco

Wine: Rioja Siglo Etiqueta Verde 1961 Blanco
Winery: Bodegas Félix Azpilicueta Martínez - AGE Bodegas Unidas (Fuenmayor, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 100% Viura.
ABV: 11.5% vol.

Winemaking

All white grapes were sourced from small-scale growers in Rioja Alta. The majority was vinified from start to finish in local cooperatives under the supervision of Félix Azpilicueta’s winemakers. Another portion, from the closest producers, was purchased as must, then vinified and matured at the Fuenmayor cellars. The wine remained for 12 months in large wooden vats from the founding era. After fermentation, it was racked into used 225-liter American oak barrels for a period of 24 to 30 months. Bottled and immediately wrapped in its signature jute sack. A minimum of 12 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars prior to its commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Light amber color, markedly evolved. Luminous, with vivid reddish and golden reflections. There is a large amount of precipitated tartrates at the base of the bottle.

 

Nose: Upon opening, it presents a slight oxidative touch—softly rancid—that does not quite dissipate. There are notes of wax, dried fruits (nut shells), and a woody background that, after some time, softens to gain creaminess. Pleasant, though it requires significant aeration to continue evolving. Decanted for approximately an hour and a half, it gains in ripeness, revealing fruit compote, orange peel, and lemon brine. Intruiging.

 

Palate: On the palate, it is the complete opposite of what was expected. It is dominated by a wild acidity that is truly jaw-dropping. Powerful, dry, and bitter; by no means an easy drink. Very demanding, requiring a palate well-trained for such wines. While it possesses great freshness, it also shows a certain "imbalance" that, even after 50 years of waiting, remains unintegrated. It sparked debate: half of the group called it a "great wine."

 

Commentary

This white wine, predating the formal creation of AGE, exceeded our modest expectations. It is a peculiar and correct specimen, though somewhat polarized due to its aggressive acidity and unyielding structure. A curious relic of Riojan history that, despite its decades in the bottle, refuses to mellow, maintaining a rustic and defiant character.

 

Personal Score: 82
Tasting Group Average: 87