Viña Real 1973 Gran Reserva

Wine: Viña Real 1973 Gran Reserva
Winery: CVNE - Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo, Graciano, and Viura
ABV: 12% vol.
Winemaking

The wine spent 12 months in oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilize before racking. Maturation took place over 36 months in seasoned 225-liter barrels (70% American oak and 30% French oak). Bottled in March 1975. Depending on the vintage, it remained in the winery’s underground cellars for 48 to 100 months before its release in the late 1970s.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearence: Ruby-red with medium intensity. It shows low extraction and is exceptionally clear and limpid, with no sediment at the base. Brilliant, featuring reddish and orange iridescence. It presents a broad, tawny rim, sharply defined against the meniscus.

Nose: Deep and remarkably pure. The initial bouquet offers abundant olive brine, wild nuances (nettle, mint), and leaf litter, followed by black truffle, smoked pepper, and morels. It is refined, with chocolatey and liqueur-like undertones, revealing an array of red fruit in kirsch, cherries, and a balsamic "after-eight" lift with sage. Over time, it unveils candied red fruits and a subtle spirituous character, complemented by spiced notes of dried orange peel, cloves, and black pepper. Elegant, smoky, and sophisticated. At nearly 55 years old, its vibrancy is nothing short of extraordinary.

 

Palate: The palate is fully integrated yet retains impressive power. It possesses a silkiness that defies its age—seamless, polished, and with impeccable definition, reminiscent of the greatest Rioja classics. It is packed with fruit and energy: spirited, fresh, and rebellious against the passage of time. It has it all: personality, balance, smoothness, and an eternal finish exuding high-quality bitters. A wine that excels in every dimension; it has reached a magnificent drinking window, with no signs of decline in the near future. At its peak and ready to be savored.

Personal Score: 98