Lagunilla 1970 Gran Reserva

Wine: Lagunilla 1970 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Lagunilla (Fuenmayor, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha
ABV: 12.5% vol.

Winemaking:
Manual harvest in 15 kg crates. Fermentation took place in large old wooden vats for just under a year, followed by time in tanks to stabilize, completing a total of 18 months. It was then transferred to used 225-liter American oak barrels for an aging period of 84 to 90 months. Fined with fresh egg whites. Bottled in late 1979. Aged for a minimum of two years in the winery's bottle racks before release. Almost the entire production was exported to the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Reddish-ruby color with medium-low depth; very clear and limpid. Brilliant and luminous, without a trace of sediment. Ruby and orange reflections. Minimal rim, showing almost no difference from the meniscus.

 

Nose: More fine and discreet than elegant, with an initial earthy and mineral zigzag of truffle and tar, joined by a bouquet of mortar-crushed peppercorns. A liqueur-like hint of red fruit, clove, and cola candy emerges strongly, reminiscent of the vigorous style of 1950s Viña Real. It evolves leisurely, revealing even more mineral matter: damp earth, licorice stick... Powerful and overwhelming.

 

Palate: Appears fully integrated, yet not lacking in power. It possesses a smoothness improper for its age, wrinkle-free and with great definition: like the great wines of Rioja. Whole and caressing, with mature yet present tannins, calmly burnished by the years, and a persistent, spicy finish.

 

Commentary:
This Lagunilla truly deserves to bear the family name on its label, unlike current wines. It is an excellent example of the winery's efforts to stand up to the Rioja giants. While it might lack the vintage "plus" shown by the 1973 Lagunilla, there is absolutely nothing to fault.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 94