Wine: Berberana 1959 Gran ReservaWinery: Bodegas Berberana (Ollauri, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 65% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo, 5% Graciano and Viura
ABV: 12.5% vol.
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 65% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo, 5% Graciano and Viura
ABV: 12.5% vol.
Winemaking:
The wine initially rests for 12 months in large, founding-era oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and natural stabilization. It then undergoes 60 months of aging in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. After a light filtration, it was bottled in mid-1966. It remained in the winery's historic underground cellars in Ollauri for a minimum of four years before its commercial release.
The wine initially rests for 12 months in large, founding-era oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and natural stabilization. It then undergoes 60 months of aging in seasoned 225-liter American oak barrels. After a light filtration, it was bottled in mid-1966. It remained in the winery's historic underground cellars in Ollauri for a minimum of four years before its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Medium-low depth reddish-ruby; remarkably clear, open, and limpid. It
exhibits a brilliant luminosity with virtually no sediment. Reflections
fluctuate between amber and tawny. Broad, classically evolved
tile-colored (atejado) rim.
Nose:
Initially austere and somewhat reticent, the wine requires thirty
minutes to shed its bottled stillness, though it remains free of
reductive flaws. Once aerated, it develops notable momentum and aromatic
breadth. Fine layers of spice (black pepper, nutmeg, clove) emerge,
seamlessly interwoven with notes of seasoned wood, laurel, toasted
cocoa, and tobacco filler. It possesses the sober, poised hallmark of
mid-century Berberana: an equilibrium defined by firmness and serenity,
closely mirroring the 1958 vintage.
Palate:
The palate is its finest attribute. It is crystalline and agile,
characterized by a lean, translucent flow that offers effortless
drinkability without sacrificing depth. It is defined by vibrant,
well-integrated acidity, low alcohol perception, and burnished, radiant
tannins. This is a wine of extraordinary harmony, standing in stark
contrast to the high-extraction trends of modern viticulture. Its
structural integrity suggests it remains unaffected by the passage of
time.
Commentary:
An impeccable companion to a traditional merluza a la riojana. This 1959 is a testament to the reliability and quiet dignity of Berberana’s golden era in Ollauri.
An impeccable companion to a traditional merluza a la riojana. This 1959 is a testament to the reliability and quiet dignity of Berberana’s golden era in Ollauri.
Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
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