Wine: Bodegas Bilbaínas Vendimia Especial 1970 Gran ReservaWinery: Bodegas Bilbaínas (Haro, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 65% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, 10% Viura and others
ABV: 12.5%
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 65% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, 10% Viura and others
ABV: 12.5%
Winemaking:
Grapes sourced entirely from the historic Finca Zaco. Manual harvest followed by a second selection on a sorting table upon arrival at the winery. The wine spent between 12 and 18 months in large old oak vats from the founding era. This was followed by 7 years of aging in used 225-liter American oak barrels. Subjected to barrel-to-barrel rackings at 8-month intervals. Filtered before bottling, starting in May 1979. A minimum of 48 months of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars before being commercialized.
Grapes sourced entirely from the historic Finca Zaco. Manual harvest followed by a second selection on a sorting table upon arrival at the winery. The wine spent between 12 and 18 months in large old oak vats from the founding era. This was followed by 7 years of aging in used 225-liter American oak barrels. Subjected to barrel-to-barrel rackings at 8-month intervals. Filtered before bottling, starting in May 1979. A minimum of 48 months of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars before being commercialized.
Note of Interest:
Classified as "Vino de Crianza" on the regulatory seal and "Reserva" on the label, it actually corresponds to a "Gran Reserva" level due to its extensive aging. This special production occurred only in the best vintages, scarcely 4 times in 50 years. From the 1962 harvest onwards, the name Zaco or Gran Zaco was added to indicate its status as a Great Single-Vineyard Wine.
Classified as "Vino de Crianza" on the regulatory seal and "Reserva" on the label, it actually corresponds to a "Gran Reserva" level due to its extensive aging. This special production occurred only in the best vintages, scarcely 4 times in 50 years. From the 1962 harvest onwards, the name Zaco or Gran Zaco was added to indicate its status as a Great Single-Vineyard Wine.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Garnet-red with medium-high depth; opaque (zaino) and covered. Coppery
and orange reflections with low gloss. Narrow, tile-colored (atejado)
rim, showing a marked difference against the meniscus. Strong sense of
thickness with heavy, persistent tearing.
Nose:
Powerful, expressive, and full of personality. An unusual amount of
macerated red and black fruits, sloe in liqueur, candied cherries, and
sun-dried tomatoes, alongside an elegant note of aromatic coffee and a
mineral hint of graphite that lingers without fully materializing. It is
unreserved and progresses firmly, shedding its initial primary
abundance to reveal a very fine reduction: English leather, blonde
tobacco, exotic woods, and smoked spices.
Palate:
Built on a powerful structure; concentrated, alive, and broad, adorned
with firm tannins that seem to refuse to age. The general sensation is
one of great power and purity—vigorous and spicy, showcasing intense
acidity and high-quality bitters. Excellent integration of the oak,
which remains buried and barely allows itself to appear.
Commentary:
A very necessary red that serves as the perfect complement to the other Gran Reservas crafted by Bodegas Bilbaínas. It still has plenty of life ahead.
A very necessary red that serves as the perfect complement to the other Gran Reservas crafted by Bodegas Bilbaínas. It still has plenty of life ahead.
Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
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