Wine: Conde de la Salceda 1981 Gran Reserva
Winery: Viña Salceda (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano.
ABV: 12.5% vol.
Winery: Viña Salceda (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano.
ABV: 12.5% vol.
Winemaking:
Grapes sourced from estate vineyards and various growers across Rioja Alavesa. The wine spent 12 months in tanks to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before wood aging. It was then transferred to French and American oak barrels, where it matured for 36 months, undergoing several manual rackings each year. A minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars was required before its commercial release.
Grapes sourced from estate vineyards and various growers across Rioja Alavesa. The wine spent 12 months in tanks to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before wood aging. It was then transferred to French and American oak barrels, where it matured for 36 months, undergoing several manual rackings each year. A minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars was required before its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Garnet-ruby color with medium-high depth; bright and clean. Featuring
coppery and reddish reflections with notable brilliance. Narrow orange
rim.
Nose:
Soft and inviting, headlined by an attractive roasted coffee aroma and a
refined backdrop of luxurious exotic woods—cedar, sandalwood, and
antique furniture, with a hint of tung oil. Elegant and
well-proportioned, it allows ample space for the wine to gradually strip
down, revealing ripe fruit, carob, raisins, and a medley of peppers. A
growing vegetal note of tobacco leaf and ivy emerges, gracefully
enveloping the bouquet. This is a balanced Gran Reserva, rich in nuances
and devoid of excessive oak, standing in stark contrast to the style
the winery would adopt at the end of the decade.
Palate:
Consistent with the nose—composed, mature, and impeccably assembled. It
is solid and seamless, dominated by a gentle touch of vanilla within an
integrated, velvety, and rounded profile. The tannins are silky and
fully melted, without any sharp edges. While it lacks the final "hook"
to reach the highest echelon, it shows no signs of fatigue. It is placid
and highly drinkable.
Commentary:
The 1981 Conde de la Salceda is a wine of great poise and classical restraint. It leaves the impression of a project that prioritized elegance and balance over power. Though it may feel as if it stopped just short of being a legendary monumental wine, its current state of maturity is flawless, offering a serene and sophisticated drinking experience that captures the best of the Alavesa sub-region.
The 1981 Conde de la Salceda is a wine of great poise and classical restraint. It leaves the impression of a project that prioritized elegance and balance over power. Though it may feel as if it stopped just short of being a legendary monumental wine, its current state of maturity is flawless, offering a serene and sophisticated drinking experience that captures the best of the Alavesa sub-region.
Personal Score: 90
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