Conde de los Andes 1968 Gran Reserva

Wine: Conde de los Andes 1968 Gran Reserva
Winery: Federico Paternina (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 10% others
ABV: 12% vol.

Winemaking:
Selection of the oldest estate vineyards near Haro and Ollauri. The wine remains for 12 to 18 months in large wooden vats from the founding era until fermentations are complete. It is then aged for a minimum of 10 years (120 months) in used 225-liter American oak barrels and foudres of various capacities. Subjected to manual rackings 3 times a year until bottling. Bottled and commercialized according to purchase orders directly from the winery's deep cellars.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Garnet-ruby color with medium depth; brilliant and luminous, showing very little signs of evolution. Total absence of sediment, extremely clean. Narrow rim with almost no differentiation from the meniscus.

 

Nose: This is where its greatness begins to show through an appearance of simplicity. Clean expression of black fruit nestled in a soft hint of graphite and a very smooth toastiness. Diaphanous, without fanfare, barely reduced by the years, showing enormous integrity.

 

Palate: Pure balance and restraint. It showcases the purest, most sober, and subtle expression of Tempranillo that Rioja Alta can offer. Maximum finesse (spherical tannins), integrated, and possessing a natural elegance within a context of austerity and roundness that only a very small group of wines in the world can achieve after 50 years. It never stops growing and refining itself.

 

Commentary:
The myth of Conde de los Andes is entirely justified, and in a historic vintage like 1968, it reaches its pinnacle. This is Great Rioja! A perfect example of why this label is legendary.

 

Personal Score: 100
Tasting Group Average: (Not provided)