Marqués de Arienzo 1998 Reserva Especial

Wine: Marqués de Arienzo 1998 Reserva Especial
Winery: Bodegas Domecq (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 25% Graciano
ABV: 13% vol.

Winemaking:
Grapes sourced entirely from estate vineyards. Manual harvest in small crates with grape selection upon arrival at the winery. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures before racking. The wine matured for 24 months in new 225-liter American oak barrels, subjected to a total of two manual rackings per year. Aged for a minimum of 30 months in the bottle within the winery's cellars before its release in mid-2004.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Garnet-cherry color with medium-high depth; highly extracted and opaque. Radiant with reddish and coppery reflections, limpid, and sediment-free. Broad, tile-colored (atejado) rim, showing significant contrast against the meniscus.

 

Nose: Low intensity; simple and lacking depth. Initially presents a wide range of woody notes, from dairy and creamy tones to toast, old wood, or charcoal. Everything else is hidden by the aging process. Neither good nor bad.

 

Palate: Noted for its immense structure. Still tannic, hard, and muscular. It feels "double-armored," heavy, and "braced to the teeth" in wood. It displays an aggressive attitude with a sharp, uncontrolled acidity. Tannins are present and rough, yet to be polished. The ensemble is not fully integrated and likely never will be. Toasty and dark, with hints of black fruit and pure licorice; very bitter.

 

Commentary:
It is hard to believe that after more than fifteen years, this wine still refuses to be "educated" in the bottle. Far from being a pleasant wine, it astounds with its concentration and indomitable character. It serves as a portrait of its time—the era of "Spain is doing well"—and the end of Bodegas Domecq in Rioja. An example that excesses come at a price.

 

Personal Score: (Not provided)
Tasting Group Average: (Not provided)