Berberana Cosecha Especial 1964 Gran Reserva

Wine: Berberana Cosecha Especial 1964 Gran Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Berberana (Ollauri, La Rioja)
Appellation: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 60% Tempranillo, 20% Mazuelo, 20% Garnacha
ABV: [Not specified]

Winemaking
Initial aging of one year in large wooden tuns. This was followed by 7 years of maturation in 225-liter American oak barrels. The wine was aged for a minimum of 4 years in the bottle prior to its commercial release. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Ruby-red of medium body; brilliant and exceptionally clean, with pomegranate and orange highlights. It displays thick tears and a pronounced sense of viscosity.

 

Nose: It presents itself in a state of plenitude, open and highly intense. Traditional aging aromas emerge (fresh vanilla, seasoned staves, shaded forest floor, smoked peppercorns) alongside the vigorous influence of the Garnacha, which contributes red stone fruit, black cherries, macerated plums, and candied quince. An elegant balsamic backdrop of great finesse follows, with notes of lemon peel, mint, and chocolate-mint liqueur (After Eight). 

 

Palate: Unctuous and concentrated; intense and showcasing profound classicism. It is underpinned by the razor-sharp acidity characteristic of the legendary 1964 vintage, which grips the palate. It is currently in an optimal drinking window; like most Berberana Gran Reservas, it displays a poised, harmonious profile with soft, rounded tannins. A balanced and austere red, brilliant and luminous, demonstrating the winery's capacity for crafting top-tier wines far beyond the standard table wines of the era. This 1964 Gran Reserva ranks among the finest wines produced in the historic Ollauri cellars before the move to Cenicero. It rivals any other great Rioja and earns its "Cosecha Especial" designation from beginning to end. An unsurpassed and unrepeatable red. 

 

Personal Score: 97
Tasting Group Score: 97