A Tasting of 1964 Gran Reserva Rioja and Even Older White Rioja! (Los Gatos, California): Smoky, camphor-filled aromas to start. Lovely light weight, more soil than black fruit, a bit of cocoa, and again, very high acidity. Its elegance shines through and the length is excellent, but the fruit comes up short and the finish is marred by sourness from the overbalanced acidity.
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At Zuberoa San Sebastian. Medium ruby, paler towards the rim. Tobacco, cedar, meatiness, some spices. Very high acid level, but still well balanced,light tannins and a long finish.
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No comment necessary. This is sooooo good for a 57 year old wine. 1964 best Rioja year ever!!! . Beautiful color. No oxidation at all. Nose still full of fruit, vanilla, chocolate and earth. Somewhat smokey. Palate like it was put in the bottle a couple of years ago. 93 points
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Very translucent garnet red, showing some "rust" at the edges. On the nose a bit of camphor, leather dust and fading rose petals; some acidity lurking in the background, but not obtrusive or disturbing. On the palate soft, ethereal with some dusty tannins and -surprisingly - after some exposure to air, some grassy notes at the end. This wine was more interesting than enjoyable; certainly not in the same league as the 52 Berberana we drank the night before...
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Perfectly intact, if appropriately faded for its age. Excellent fill and color, showing a lot of vanilla perfume, cedar, sandalwood. Shy fruit and very little sweetness but was invigorated by some rosemary beef and tagliatelle. Classic and pretty tasty.
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A private dinner with friends (at home): Mature but lively appearance; classical old Rioja expression on the nose, cool and fresh, cedar and undergrowth, blonde tobacco, transparent and clean, touch of spice, retains the vanilla scent from the American oak, develops well in the glass, good depth; well-balanced palate, medium body (12% ABV), slender yet supple, beautifully integrated acidity, light tannic grip; light finish, hint of cold tea, good length. Still harmonious at 54 years of age, classical style, very good wine from a great year.
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Bottle from a perfect cellar in san sebastian. Nose had hint of oxidation with leather, earth and tertiary flavours. Palate still had some fruit left but it was mostly secondary and plum. Given this bottle was from a perfect provenance, the wine has undoubtedly passed its peak.
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More interesting than pleasurable, but still hanging on. Still has a bit of fruit left, but the tertiary notes you would expect from a half century of age weren't very strong. The nose wasn't overly expressive either, but the beautiful beeswax notes of old wine were present. No issues with VA. As a birthday or anniversary bottle this would be fine, but otherwise there are nicer examples of age out there. Purchased from The Rare Wine Co.
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Nine different 1964 red Rioja bottles: Somewhat more straightforward and simple than Vina Pomal RE '64. A bit less concentrated, smoky with a hint of menthol. Very nice by itself, but the direct comparison didn't help it.
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Not a perfect bottle with barely high shoulder fill. PnP with a Paella at home. A remarkably young color with a fairly deep garnet core and only bricking at the rim. Based on the color could be mistaken for say a 97 Bordeaux and not a 64 Rioja. On the nose initially nice sous bois, then also some herbs and spices, no signs of oxidization whatsoever. The palate shows initially mainly leather and tobacco but with about 30 min of air the wine opens up and you get a nice layer of fine, sweet fruit. Medium finish. Hard to rate a 50 year old wine... In absolute terms would give it a 90-91 but of course if you take into account the age you could give also a few extra points..
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Con vinos como este no hay lugar a duda. Estamos ante un Paternina de manual, de esos que deberían de servir como ejemplo para mostrar las virtudes de la bodega: maduro, complejo, suave, con un matiz ahumado que sobrevuela todo el rato el conjunto. Está repleto de pequeños detalles, de unas maderas finas y cremosas que brillan de tan elegantes que son. Va sacando un fondo de cuero de grandísima calidad que se entremezcla con apuntes minerales de polvorilla y pedernal. Desde un primer momento parece ya totalmente abierto, pleno, sin necesidad de espera para que vaya ganando en intensidad. Un vino para tomar nota. Resultón, de gran entereza.
En boca lleva el sello de la cosecha por encima del estilo propio de la casa: vigor, amplitud, viva acidez y una estructura poco habitual para un vino tan fino como solía ser este Paternina Gran Reserva. Amplio, sabroso, generoso en fruta reducida, taninos fundidos, suaves, y un final especiado, finísimo, permanente, envolviendo el paladar con gran finura. Se viene arriba por momentos, resplandece y persiste hasta aburrir. Extraordinario!!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 70% tempranillo, 30% garnacha, mazuelo y graciano. Selección de uva de diferentes parcelas de la Rioja Alta propiedad de la bodega y de productores locales. Permanece entre 12 y 18 meses en grandes depósitos de madera de la época fundacional hasta que finaliza las fermentaciones y reposa antes de ser trasegado para su posterior crianza. Criado principalmente en barricas usadas de roble americano de 225 litros, y otros volúmenes, entre 54 y 72 meses. Sometido a diversos trasiegos manuales de forma periódica. Un mínimo de 3 años de guarda en botellero antes de ser comercializado. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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a high fill bottle, an excellent Rioja year, so I had some expectations...., no decant, just popped and poured in our glasses, nevertheless the wine showed a very healthy colour, some earthy notes in the nose, still some red fruit, fine integrated and lively acidity, developed with breathing, leather, some black chocolate, hints of red fruit, midweight and very balanced body, very complex showing, long finish, loved that bottle, and...... good pairing with a fine T- bone....., on top now, but in wellstored hf or ts bottles still some years ahead, ****(+-?), 93- 95+
San Sebastian; 11/22/2013-11/24/2014 (San Sebastian, Spain): The nose had a touch of oxidation but just a small touch. Healthy fruit intermixed with an earthy character and the wine was very vibrant! Firm on the palate too and for the age it had good concentration. Felt it could go for many more years. Eclipsed by the 1928 we had side by side but a very good wine nonetheless. 92
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Resolved and silky and showing much more earth, leather and citrus flavors than fruit. That said, there's just enough of a glimmer of cherry left to capture one's imagination and help round the wine out. The mouthfeel is lovely, though I would prefer more fruit. B.
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Wow! The wire cage was long gone but the fill level was well into the neck. A short decant showed a bright ruby red with some bricking at the edge but no untoward signs of decay. Straight into the decanter this near 50 year old was clearly in a good place - it smelt great and there was almost no sediment. Classic aged Rioja nose of cedar, classy leather and sun dried fruit. Still fresh, complex, tasty, paired well with a shoulder of lamb, herbs and ratatouille. Medium length, no degradation over two hours. An amazing wine - profoundly enjoyable and a credit to Rioja and Spain.
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5/21/2023 - drwine2001 wrote:
A Tasting of 1964 Gran Reserva Rioja and Even Older White Rioja! (Los Gatos, California): Smoky, camphor-filled aromas to start. Lovely light weight, more soil than black fruit, a bit of cocoa, and again, very high acidity. Its elegance shines through and the length is excellent, but the fruit comes up short and the finish is marred by sourness from the overbalanced acidity.
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7/28/2022 - Oysteih Likes this wine:
At Zuberoa San Sebastian. Medium ruby, paler towards the rim. Tobacco, cedar, meatiness, some spices. Very high acid level, but still well balanced,light tannins and a long finish.
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8/24/2021 - querilant Likes this wine: 93 Points
No comment necessary. This is sooooo good for a 57 year old wine. 1964 best Rioja year ever!!! . Beautiful color. No oxidation at all. Nose still full of fruit, vanilla, chocolate and earth. Somewhat smokey. Palate like it was put in the bottle a couple of years ago. 93 points
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3/6/2021 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Very translucent garnet red, showing some "rust" at the edges.
On the nose a bit of camphor, leather dust and fading rose petals; some acidity lurking in the background, but not obtrusive or disturbing.
On the palate soft, ethereal with some dusty tannins and -surprisingly - after some exposure to air, some grassy notes at the end.
This wine was more interesting than enjoyable; certainly not in the same league as the 52 Berberana we drank the night before...
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12/12/2018 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
Perfectly intact, if appropriately faded for its age. Excellent fill and color, showing a lot of vanilla perfume, cedar, sandalwood. Shy fruit and very little sweetness but was invigorated by some rosemary beef and tagliatelle. Classic and pretty tasty.
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8/18/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
A private dinner with friends (at home): Mature but lively appearance; classical old Rioja expression on the nose, cool and fresh, cedar and undergrowth, blonde tobacco, transparent and clean, touch of spice, retains the vanilla scent from the American oak, develops well in the glass, good depth; well-balanced palate, medium body (12% ABV), slender yet supple, beautifully integrated acidity, light tannic grip; light finish, hint of cold tea, good length. Still harmonious at 54 years of age, classical style, very good wine from a great year.
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7/2/2018 - Burgnick wrote: 90 Points
Bottle from a perfect cellar in san sebastian. Nose had hint of oxidation with leather, earth and tertiary flavours. Palate still had some fruit left but it was mostly secondary and plum. Given this bottle was from a perfect provenance, the wine has undoubtedly passed its peak.
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8/5/2017 - ProperClaret wrote:
More interesting than pleasurable, but still hanging on. Still has a bit of fruit left, but the tertiary notes you would expect from a half century of age weren't very strong. The nose wasn't overly expressive either, but the beautiful beeswax notes of old wine were present. No issues with VA. As a birthday or anniversary bottle this would be fine, but otherwise there are nicer examples of age out there. Purchased from The Rare Wine Co.
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10/11/2016 - AV2012 wrote: 89 Points
Nine different 1964 red Rioja bottles: Somewhat more straightforward and simple than Vina Pomal RE '64. A bit less concentrated, smoky with a hint of menthol. Very nice by itself, but the direct comparison didn't help it.
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1/10/2015 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not a perfect bottle with barely high shoulder fill. PnP with a Paella at home. A remarkably young color with a fairly deep garnet core and only bricking at the rim. Based on the color could be mistaken for say a 97 Bordeaux and not a 64 Rioja.
On the nose initially nice sous bois, then also some herbs and spices, no signs of oxidization whatsoever. The palate shows initially mainly leather and tobacco but with about 30 min of air the wine opens up and you get a nice layer of fine, sweet fruit. Medium finish.
Hard to rate a 50 year old wine... In absolute terms would give it a 90-91 but of course if you take into account the age you could give also a few extra points..
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12/22/2014 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 96 Points
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Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2014/12/paternina-1964-gran-reserva.html
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Precioso color rubí marronoso de capa media, limpio, sin apenas precipitados. Reflejos vivos, rojizos y cobrizos, brillantes. Fuerte sensación de grosor, lágrimas gruesas, permanentes. Borde amplio, anaranjado, con marcada diferencia respecto al menisco.
Con vinos como este no hay lugar a duda. Estamos ante un Paternina de manual, de esos que deberían de servir como ejemplo para mostrar las virtudes de la bodega: maduro, complejo, suave, con un matiz ahumado que sobrevuela todo el rato el conjunto. Está repleto de pequeños detalles, de unas maderas finas y cremosas que brillan de tan elegantes que son. Va sacando un fondo de cuero de grandísima calidad que se entremezcla con apuntes minerales de polvorilla y pedernal. Desde un primer momento parece ya totalmente abierto, pleno, sin necesidad de espera para que vaya ganando en intensidad. Un vino para tomar nota. Resultón, de gran entereza.
En boca lleva el sello de la cosecha por encima del estilo propio de la casa: vigor, amplitud, viva acidez y una estructura poco habitual para un vino tan fino como solía ser este Paternina Gran Reserva. Amplio, sabroso, generoso en fruta reducida, taninos fundidos, suaves, y un final especiado, finísimo, permanente, envolviendo el paladar con gran finura. Se viene arriba por momentos, resplandece y persiste hasta aburrir. Extraordinario!!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
70% tempranillo, 30% garnacha, mazuelo y graciano.
Selección de uva de diferentes parcelas de la Rioja Alta propiedad de la bodega y de productores locales. Permanece entre 12 y 18 meses en grandes depósitos de madera de la época fundacional hasta que finaliza las fermentaciones y reposa antes de ser trasegado para su posterior crianza. Criado principalmente en barricas usadas de roble americano de 225 litros, y otros volúmenes, entre 54 y 72 meses. Sometido a diversos trasiegos manuales de forma periódica. Un mínimo de 3 años de guarda en botellero antes de ser comercializado.
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12/13/2014 - fc1910 Likes this wine: 94 Points
a high fill bottle, an excellent Rioja year, so I had some expectations...., no decant, just popped and poured in our glasses, nevertheless the wine showed a very healthy colour, some earthy notes in the nose, still some red fruit, fine integrated and lively acidity, developed with breathing, leather, some black chocolate, hints of red fruit, midweight and very balanced body, very complex showing, long finish, loved that bottle, and...... good pairing with a fine T- bone....., on top now, but in wellstored hf or ts bottles still some years ahead, ****(+-?), 93- 95+
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11/24/2013 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
San Sebastian; 11/22/2013-11/24/2014 (San Sebastian, Spain): The nose had a touch of oxidation but just a small touch. Healthy fruit intermixed with an earthy character and the wine was very vibrant! Firm on the palate too and for the age it had good concentration. Felt it could go for many more years. Eclipsed by the 1928 we had side by side but a very good wine nonetheless. 92
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1/1/2012 - BradKNYC wrote:
Resolved and silky and showing much more earth, leather and citrus flavors than fruit. That said, there's just enough of a glimmer of cherry left to capture one's imagination and help round the wine out. The mouthfeel is lovely, though I would prefer more fruit. B.
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4/22/2011 - Nohedes wrote: 95 Points
Wow! The wire cage was long gone but the fill level was well into the neck. A short decant showed a bright ruby red with some bricking at the edge but no untoward signs of decay. Straight into the decanter this near 50 year old was clearly in a good place - it smelt great and there was almost no sediment. Classic aged Rioja nose of cedar, classy leather and sun dried fruit. Still fresh, complex, tasty, paired well with a shoulder of lamb, herbs and ratatouille. Medium length, no degradation over two hours. An amazing wine - profoundly enjoyable and a credit to Rioja and Spain.
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