Marqués de Riscal 1970 Reserva

Wine: Marqués de Riscal 1970 Reserva
Winery: Marqués de Riscal (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon (plus a negligible percentage of Viura)
ABV: N/A

Winemaking:
In accordance with the era’s tradition, the blend includes a small amount of white grapes (primarily Viura) harvested from the vineyard edges. The wine was aged in neutral 225-liter American oak barrels for between 5 and 7 years. During the first three years, it underwent continuous rackings every three months to avoid the need for filtration before bottling. Traditional fining was performed with fresh egg whites, and the wine was hand-bottled directly from the cask.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Brilliant ruby-red with medium depth. Displays vibrant reflections and a broad rim.

 

Nose: Currently in peak form. Open and expressive, showing initial notes of noble woods and an elegant, slightly creamy backdrop. Deeply serious and recognizable. As it breathes, it gains complexity, revealing ripe fruit (morello cherries), balsamics, and laurel, underpinned by a ferruginous mineral edge. It evolves with superb poise, showing a solid, "autumnal" forest-floor character typical of the great 1970 Riojas.

 

Palate: Impactful and elegant, driven by a remarkably sharp acidity. This is a legendary Riscal. The tannins are pure silk—round and high-toned—offering a finely spiced mid-palate of immense quality. Savory, long, and persistent. Its excellent state of preservation is surprising, promising many years of life ahead.

 

Commentary:
An absolute essential and one of the benchmark Riojas of the 1970 vintage. A wine of monumental stature.

 

Personal Score: 98
Tasting Group Average: 99