Diamante 1920 Blanco Estilo Sauternes

Wine: Diamante 1920 Blanco Estilo Sauternes
Winery: Bodegas Franco-Españolas (Logroño, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: No exact data available (likely the classic house blend: 50% Viura, 25% Garnacha Blanca, 25% Malvasía Riojana).
ABV: (Not specified)

Winemaking:
Late-harvested grapes collected after the main vintage from estate vineyards and smallholders in Rioja Alta. The wine spent 12 to 18 months in large neutral wooden vats for fermentation and stabilization. It matured for 36 to 60 months in neutral American oak barrels of various capacities (225 to 400 liters) and French "demi-muids" (450 to 600 liters). Several manual rackings were performed annually. Bottled directly from the cask in the late 1920s, it rested for at least 36 months in the subterranean cellars before being released upon demand. (Note: Opened using port tongs due to its age; no evidence of re-corking).

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Dark amber, honey-like color; highly evolved yet impeccably preserved. It remains as limpid as a newly bottled wine, with no sediment or suspended particles. It shows vibrant coppery, orange, and brownish reflections. Luminous and full of life, it displays a notable viscosity with very fine, persistent legs. It evokes the visual profile of an ancient vintage Madeira.

 

Nose: Extremely complex and profoundly reduced, requiring three hours of aeration to reveal its true nature. It presents a sophisticated array of pastry notes: burnt sugar, orange biscotti, dried figs, cloves, and beeswax, supported by a peculiar balsamic background of resin and propolis. Intriguing hints of coriander seeds, citronella, and malted barley emerge, giving way to a deep, savory sensation of Marmite, black tea, and arrope (grape must reduction). An overwhelming and multifaceted bouquet.

 

Palate: A gentle caress on the palate, showing more tension and less sweetness than anticipated. It is broad and exceptionally concentrated. A dominant vanilla note is surrounded by the noble bitterness of English orange marmalade, dried apricots, and turmeric. It has aged with immense nobility, completely avoiding any rancio defects. The finish is long, oscillating between sweetness and bitterness, leaving a powerful woody retronasal trail of eucalyptus honey.

 

Commentary:
The 1920 Diamante "Sauternes style" is a legendary wine that transcends conventional assessment. To taste a bottle of such age in this state of preservation—vibrant, clean, and aromatically soaring—is a transformative experience. It represents the pinnacle of Rioja’s historical capacity for producing world-class sweet white wines. A flawless masterpiece that continues to perfume the glass long after the wine is gone.

 

Personal Score: 100
Tasting Group Average: 100