Community Tasting Notes 33

• cortoncharlie wrote:

  July 11, 2023 - stunning

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• Harley1199 Likes this wine: 96 points

  June 20, 2023 - New Opportunities by the Sea; 6/7/2023-6/30/2023 (Alicante - España): More than ten years since previous bottle from this vintage. Till keeping that golden net, a sign of the greatness from the past. Capsule shattered into a thousand pieces when trying to remove it. Cork soaked and moldy. Another mission impossible for The Durand achieved (pictured). PnP. Clear orange colour with a ruby core and some aqueous edging. On the nose, after dissipating the obvious reduction, it retains that sweet touch of strawberries, wet leather, plowed earth, wild mushrooms, vegetable glycerine, furniture varnish, rusty apple, marzipan ... Endless complexity for a bottle that some would describe as old. On the palate it has a silky, elusive and watery texture. Tremendous acidity, still alive and kicking although volatile is already knocking at your doors. Finish fully digestive. I reaffirm, wine of La Rioja is not for everyone. I’m sorry.
  An inspiring, exciting bottle that on the back label proudly obstructs a simple "crianza" and deserves all kinds of praise. I still have two more bottles. Happiness
  
  Más de diez años desde la última botella de esta añada. Todavía conservaba la red dorada, signo de grandeza del pasado. Cápsula destrozada en mil pedazos al intentar retirarla. Corcho empapado y enmohecido. Otra misión imposible para The Durand conseguida (en la imagen). Abierta y servida. Límpido color anaranjado con un núcleo rubí y unos ribetes acuosas. En nariz, tras disipar la evidente reducción, conserva el toque dulce de las fresas, del cuero mojado, de la tierra arada, de setas silvestres, de la glicerina vegetal, del barniz de mobiliario, manzana oxidada, mazapán ... Complejidad sin fin para una botella que alguno calificaría de vetusta. Al paladar presenta una textura sedosa, esquiva y acuosa. Tremenda acidez, todavía viva y coleando aunque la volátil ya está llamando a sus puertas. Final plenamente digestivo. Me reafirmo, el vino de La Rioja no es para todo el mundo. Lo siento.
  Una botella emocionante, inspiradora que en la etiqueta trasera obstenta orgullosamente un simple "crianza" y que bien merece todo tipo de elogios. Todavía conservo dos botellas más. La felicidad.

  3 people found this helpful Comments (2)

• drwine2001 wrote:

  May 21, 2023 - A Tasting of 1964 Gran Reserva Rioja and Even Older White Rioja! (Los Gatos, California): Quite pale. Balsam and dark fruit on the nose. Ethereal, balanced feel in the mouth-a real wisp as it crosses the palate. Outstanding equilibrium of dark fruit and soil, and the acidity is not as strident as in the first few wines of the flight. Amazingly, the fruit really comes up with more air, and there is a late citrus twist. Terrific complexity and a lingering finish with a hint of bitter chocolate. Superb liveliness and freshness. My favorite wine of the flight and a close second place in terms of the group ranking. Probably the best La Rioja Alta wine I've ever had, and completely free of the strong American oak imprint that younger examples show.

  Comment

• SussexRH Likes this wine: 94 points

  January 14, 2023 - At Rekondo for Bethan’s birthday. Heady and highly perfumed with frankincense, sweet redcurrant, blackberry; sweet entry, vanilla oak, midpalate tending closer to Burgundian breadth and savouriness; light, ethereal, dances across the palate; opens up to mushroom/truffle on the end; still full of life, elegant with a long, long finish; begins to fade after an hour (no decanting) but so much still to offer after nearly 60 years.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• jimcopland wrote: 91 points

  January 22, 2022 - Unlike 66 CVNE Gran Riserva opened concurrently, fresh -- not madeirized. Consistent with prior notes. Faded, sure, but a delicious complement to braised lamb.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 3

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1964
• Type Red
• Producer La Rioja Alta
• Varietal Tempranillo Blend
• Designation Reserva 904
• Vineyard n/a
• Country Spain
• Region La Rioja
• SubRegion La Rioja Alta
• Appellation Rioja

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 11 (4%)
• In Cellars 153 (53%)
• Consumed 122 (43%)

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