Winery: Bodegas Campo Viejo (Logroño, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 5% Garnacha, 2% Graciano, 3% others (Viura, Malvasía Riojana)
ABV: 12.5%
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 5% Garnacha, 2% Graciano, 3% others (Viura, Malvasía Riojana)
ABV: 12.5%
Winemaking:
A selection of grapes from the oldest vineyards owned by Campo Viejo in Navarrete (Rioja Alta). Each variety was vinified separately until the end of fermentation, followed by the final blend. The wine underwent an initial 24-month aging period in large 5,000-liter oak vats before being transferred to 225-liter Bordeaux-style barrels. It matured for over 60 months in the winery’s Logroño cellars and rested for an additional two years in the bottle to round out before its commercial release in 1982.
A selection of grapes from the oldest vineyards owned by Campo Viejo in Navarrete (Rioja Alta). Each variety was vinified separately until the end of fermentation, followed by the final blend. The wine underwent an initial 24-month aging period in large 5,000-liter oak vats before being transferred to 225-liter Bordeaux-style barrels. It matured for over 60 months in the winery’s Logroño cellars and rested for an additional two years in the bottle to round out before its commercial release in 1982.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Brownish-red with medium-high depth; darker than other contemporary
wines tasted to date, yet showing no signs of over-evolution. Brilliant
with amber reflections and a very fine sediment at the base. Broad,
saffron-toned (azafranado) rim.
Nose:
Frank and clean aromatics, leading with a strong initial presence of
fine wood (birch, cedar, cigar humidor), notably free of vanilla or
creamy notes. It builds steadily, gaining mineral accents (graphite,
charcoal) that pair beautifully with high-quality ground and smoked
spices. It possesses immense complexity and finesse, defining a truly
great wine. While it lacks some of the shadier, autumnal fragrance
remembered from previous bottles, it compensates with an equilibrium few
wines can claim.
Palate:
The palate confirms the nose: exceptionally fine, silky, and subtle. It
is fully integrated, showing near-perfect roundness and extreme
elegance without artifice. It does not just drink; it flows
effortlessly. It appears to have evolved positively in recent years,
becoming even more integrated and reaching its absolute peak. Ethereal
and incredibly soft, it is draped in silk.
Commentary:
Without a doubt, one of the greatest Riojan wines of the 1973 vintage. A majestic Villamagna that demands respect. This is bottled pleasure—pure elegance and a testament to the heights Campo Viejo reached during this era. Hats off to a masterpiece.
Without a doubt, one of the greatest Riojan wines of the 1973 vintage. A majestic Villamagna that demands respect. This is bottled pleasure—pure elegance and a testament to the heights Campo Viejo reached during this era. Hats off to a masterpiece.
Personal Score: 95
Tasting Group Average: N/A
Tasting Group Average: N/A
Tasting Notes (12/03/2013)
Appearance:
Brilliant ruby color with medium body; luminous and exceptionally
clean. It shows very little difference between the meniscus and the rim.
Nose:
An absolute powerhouse! It delivers potency and complexity in equal
measure—radiant and filled with details of a quality rarely seen,
without a single trace of negative reduction. The aromas transport you
to a shaded forest, enveloping you in leaf litter and birch wood. Black
truffle and chestnut husks emerge, followed by a backdrop of smoked
pepper, old leather, and the soft toast of charcoal. It builds
continuously, gaining depth and maturity with notes of red fruit
preserves, withered flowers, seasoned oak staves, and dried apricots.
Palate:
Spherical on the palate. The tannins are softly sculpted and silky,
filled with an impact of red fruit preserves (strawberry tree fruit)
that strikes the mouth. Savory and fresh, with perfect acidity and a
very slight hint of high-quality sweetness. An autumnal, seamless wine—a
true gentleman in a tuxedo. It is difficult to comprehend how so much
can fit into a single bottle.
Commentary:
Possibly the finest wine from the 1973 vintage tasted to date, showcasing all its virtues. If it hasn't reached perfection yet, it is only because it possesses so much life that it still has room to improve. A majestic achievement.
Possibly the finest wine from the 1973 vintage tasted to date, showcasing all its virtues. If it hasn't reached perfection yet, it is only because it possesses so much life that it still has room to improve. A majestic achievement.
Personal Score: 97
Tasting Group Average: 96
Tasting Group Average: 96
Tasting Notes (12/04/2012)
Appearance: Ruby color with medium body; brilliant and luminous. Tawny rim with reddish and orange reflections.
Nose:
Powerful and clean, showing an elegant expression of classic Riojan
aging. Aromas of sweet spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh vanilla) are
joined by highly elegant tertiary notes, smoked pepper, toasted
registers, and black liquorice.
Palate:
Vibrant and concentrated on the palate. Brimming with life, round, and
elegant. It grows continuously as it breathes, becoming increasingly
expressive. Overall, it offers sensations very similar to the Marqués de
Villamagna Gran Reserva 1975.
Commentary:
Without the label, one could easily mistake this for the 1975 vintage; the signature style of the winery is unmistakable. A monumental wine that continues to prove its stature and longevity.
Without the label, one could easily mistake this for the 1975 vintage; the signature style of the winery is unmistakable. A monumental wine that continues to prove its stature and longevity.
Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
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