Wine: Marqués de Riscal 1958 Reserva
Winery: Marqués de Riscal (Elciego, Rioja Alavesa)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 60% Tempranillo, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (plus a small percentage of Viura)
ABV: 11.5%
Winery: Marqués de Riscal (Elciego, Rioja Alavesa)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 60% Tempranillo, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (plus a small percentage of Viura)
ABV: 11.5%
Winemaking:
In line with the era's tradition, the blend includes a negligible amount of white grapes (primarily Viura) harvested from the vineyard edges. Each varietal was vinified separately. The wine spent approximately 12 months in large, founding-era seasoned oak vats for fermentation and stabilization. It then matured for 50 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels. Manual barrel-to-barrel rackings were performed every three months during the first three years to avoid filtration. Traditionally fined with fresh egg whites, the wine was blended in tanks and hand-bottled directly from the cask. It was aged for a minimum of five years in the winery’s underground cellars before release.
In line with the era's tradition, the blend includes a negligible amount of white grapes (primarily Viura) harvested from the vineyard edges. Each varietal was vinified separately. The wine spent approximately 12 months in large, founding-era seasoned oak vats for fermentation and stabilization. It then matured for 50 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels. Manual barrel-to-barrel rackings were performed every three months during the first three years to avoid filtration. Traditionally fined with fresh egg whites, the wine was blended in tanks and hand-bottled directly from the cask. It was aged for a minimum of five years in the winery’s underground cellars before release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Brownish-red with medium-high depth; opaque and remarkably
well-extracted for its age and vintage. Displays orange reflections and
muted brilliance, with a small amount of sediment at the base. Narrow,
tawny (atejado) rim, sharply defined against the meniscus.
Nose:
Powerful from the moment of opening—dark, densely packed, and forceful
in its delivery. It shows an unusual strength that contrasts with the
classic Riscal profile of the era. The aromatic core is tightly knit,
featuring oak-driven toasted notes that meld with roasted coffee, smoke,
resin, tar, and a mineral backdrop of coal and cold embers. The fruit
is present and liqueur-like, highly mature, and coupled with smoked
spices, black pepper, and a reductive residue of tanned leather and
forest floor.
Palate:
The palate feels more familiar—less brusque and more poised. Fine,
elegant, and exceptionally fresh, it remains vibrant with excellent
acidity. An earthy and spicy character gains presence as it breathes,
providing true brilliance. It maintains a core of high-quality, tart,
liqueur-like fruit, amplified by bitter notes of pure cocoa and a very
fine wild, almost mentholated (After-Eight) touch. Balanced, savory, and full of its own distinct Riscal style.
Commentary:
An excellent bottle that defies the typical expectations of its vintage with surprising vigor. While the nose is robust and almost wild, the palate resolves into the quintessential elegance and freshness that define historic Elciego reds.
An excellent bottle that defies the typical expectations of its vintage with surprising vigor. While the nose is robust and almost wild, the palate resolves into the quintessential elegance and freshness that define historic Elciego reds.
Personal Score: 95
Tasting Group Average: 95
Tasting Group Average: 95
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