Wine: Franco-Españolas 1959 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Franco-Españolas (Logroño, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo
ABV: N/A
Winery: Bodegas Franco-Españolas (Logroño, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo
ABV: N/A
Winemaking:
The wine rested for 18 to 24 months in large, late 19th-century oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It then matured for 72 to 84 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels, subjected to periodic rackings. Fined with fresh egg whites and aged for a minimum of six years in the winery’s underground cellars. This lot was recorked and specially wax-sealed upon leaving the winery in February 1974 to ensure cork hygiene and longevity. Limited production of 2,500 bottles; originally not for commercial sale, released only occasionally to select clients.
The wine rested for 18 to 24 months in large, late 19th-century oak vats to complete malolactic fermentation and stabilization. It then matured for 72 to 84 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels, subjected to periodic rackings. Fined with fresh egg whites and aged for a minimum of six years in the winery’s underground cellars. This lot was recorked and specially wax-sealed upon leaving the winery in February 1974 to ensure cork hygiene and longevity. Limited production of 2,500 bottles; originally not for commercial sale, released only occasionally to select clients.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Pale ruby with medium-low depth; translucent, limpid, and free of
sediment. Refulgent with vibrant reddish and amber iridescence. Broad,
tawny rim. The bottle shows magnificent cellaring conditions; the quality cork remained elastic and firmly adhered to the wax seal.
Nose:
It takes time to unfurl but shows no signs of over-evolution or
unpleasant reductive notes. Initially dense, it is dominated by spicy
registers, a medley of peppercorns, and a soft array of anise, fennel,
rock tea, and marjoram. After three hours of aeration in the bottle, it
reveals notes of lilac candy, soft toast, and withered petals, all
veined by a very fine mineral core of graphite and earthy undertones. It
bears an uncanny resemblance to the Excelso 1959.
Palate:
Impeccable and rounded on the palate, yet endowed with great nerve.
Complex and orderly, it gains stature by the minute. It possesses a core
of vitality and energy thanks to its firm acidity and notes of tart
fruit with a hint of sweetness—the historic signature of
Franco-Españolas. It remains a red of traditional craftsmanship:
elegant, slightly vanilla-tinged, and deeply expressive throughout the
tasting.
Commentary:
The 1959 vintage continues to shine at an unbelievable level. While perhaps overshadowed by the profusion of legendary vintages between 1948 and 1964, it has absolutely nothing to envy them. This rare bottling is a testament to the heights the winery reached in its golden era. The only drawback is the extreme scarcity of remaining bottles.
The 1959 vintage continues to shine at an unbelievable level. While perhaps overshadowed by the profusion of legendary vintages between 1948 and 1964, it has absolutely nothing to envy them. This rare bottling is a testament to the heights the winery reached in its golden era. The only drawback is the extreme scarcity of remaining bottles.
Personal Score: 94
Tasting Group Average: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
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