Wine: Conde de Valdemar 1994 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Martínez Bujanda (Oyón, Rioja Alavesa)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo
ABV: 13%
Winery: Bodegas Martínez Bujanda (Oyón, Rioja Alavesa)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo
ABV: 13%
Winemaking:
The grapes are sourced exclusively from estate vineyards with an average age of over 18 years, located in Ausejo, Logroño, and Oyón, covering all three Rioja sub-zones. Manual harvesting took place during the second week of October. The wine rested in temperature-controlled tanks for approximately six months to complete fermentation and stabilization. It was then aged for 30 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels of various ages, undergoing a total of five manual barrel-to-barrel rackings. Bottled in mid-1999, it underwent a minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before its commercial release.
The grapes are sourced exclusively from estate vineyards with an average age of over 18 years, located in Ausejo, Logroño, and Oyón, covering all three Rioja sub-zones. Manual harvesting took place during the second week of October. The wine rested in temperature-controlled tanks for approximately six months to complete fermentation and stabilization. It was then aged for 30 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels of various ages, undergoing a total of five manual barrel-to-barrel rackings. Bottled in mid-1999, it underwent a minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Brownish-red with medium depth; clear and open. Displays brilliant
amber and pomegranate reflections. Clean, with a significant amount of
sediment at the base. Narrow orange rim, sharply defined against the
meniscus.
Nose:
Initially displays a more modern profile than previous vintages, making
it difficult to place within the winery's traditional lineage. High
intensity but somewhat brusque, marked by oak influence (toasted cocoa,
charcoal) and a spicy, vegetal backdrop of peat and embers. It arrives
"tight," with little room for expression. Despite aeration, it struggles
to break free from its oak-driven "corset," eventually revealing hints
of macerated fruit and prunes without ever fully opening up.
Palate: More poised and open on the palate. Viscous (graso)
and voluminous, showing good structure and concentration. The tannins
are sweet and warm within a well-resolved framework, though it perhaps
lacks a certain "spark" and complexity.
Commentary:
A solid wine, though it sits a few steps behind the legendary Conde de Valdemar releases prior to 1994. Its current state is dominated by a persistent oak structure that slightly overshadows the fruit's potential.
A solid wine, though it sits a few steps behind the legendary Conde de Valdemar releases prior to 1994. Its current state is dominated by a persistent oak structure that slightly overshadows the fruit's potential.
Personal Score: 87
Tasting Group Average: 87
Tasting Group Average: 87
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