Wine: Viña Turzaballa 1996 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Ramón Bilbao (Haro, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 100% Tempranillo
ABV: 13%
Winery: Bodegas Ramón Bilbao (Haro, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 100% Tempranillo
ABV: 13%
Winemaking:
Manual harvest in mid-October from the estate's two oldest vineyards (over 75 years old) near Haro: Finca de la Turca and La Zaballa, both owned by the family since the winery's foundation. The wine completed fermentation and stabilization in tanks before being racked for aging. It matured for 40 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels, with two manual rackings performed each year. Lightly filtered before bottling. Limited production of 122,000 bottles. It underwent a minimum of three and a half years of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before release.
Manual harvest in mid-October from the estate's two oldest vineyards (over 75 years old) near Haro: Finca de la Turca and La Zaballa, both owned by the family since the winery's foundation. The wine completed fermentation and stabilization in tanks before being racked for aging. It matured for 40 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels, with two manual rackings performed each year. Lightly filtered before bottling. Limited production of 122,000 bottles. It underwent a minimum of three and a half years of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Ruby-red with medium depth; open and very clear. Limpid and brilliant,
showing no signs of sediment, with abundant pomegranate and orange
reflections. Broad, tawny (atejado) rim.
Nose:
Reminiscent of the cherished Turzaballa releases of the 60s and 70s:
orderly, clean, and open, showcasing the classic spirit of the brand. It
features maturity, a good dose of elegant oak, leather, and that
quintessential, fine Riojan vanilla backdrop. Compact and balanced, it
gains complexity gradually, revealing a striking patina of earthy notes,
leaf litter, peat, silt, toasted cocoa, and laurel. Truly impressive.
Palate:
Light on the entry, seemingly fragile but surprisingly resilient. Fine,
fresh, and vivacious, it moves with agility and is entirely devoid of
excessive "muscle." It possesses tension and nerve, with integrated
acidity and numerous interwoven layers. Well-crafted and honest, it
avoids any pretension, responding perfectly to what one expects from a
great Rioja: balance, reliability, and immense drinkability. It shows
every sign of being a long-lived wine.
Commentary:
A tremendous Turzaballa, more accessible than the brooding '94 and far superior to the '99. The 1996 vintage is a hidden gem in Rioja, producing memorable wines that continue to improve in the bottle. It is difficult to understand why Ramón Bilbao chose to discontinue its flagship 20th-century label. These suppressed Viña Turzaballa bottles effortlessly outperform the winery's current range, remaining the absolute peak of quality for the estate. A fine wine that proves some corporate decisions were simply unnecessary.
A tremendous Turzaballa, more accessible than the brooding '94 and far superior to the '99. The 1996 vintage is a hidden gem in Rioja, producing memorable wines that continue to improve in the bottle. It is difficult to understand why Ramón Bilbao chose to discontinue its flagship 20th-century label. These suppressed Viña Turzaballa bottles effortlessly outperform the winery's current range, remaining the absolute peak of quality for the estate. A fine wine that proves some corporate decisions were simply unnecessary.
Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
Tasting Group Average: 92
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