1978 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Bosconia

Community Tasting Notes (17) Avg Score: 91.9 points

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  11/14/2022 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 94 Points

  In a great spot. Soft, subtle with great texture. Dark fruits and spices. Good acidity and balance. Perfect nose of red and black berries with some soil and earth. Lovely wine from a legendary producer.

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  6/9/2021 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 90 Points

  'Farewell Alexandria' Lunch (Table, 8th Floor, The Pemberton, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong): Almost obliterated front label which was not surprising as it had travelled at some stage to Hong Kong via a US importer in California. Opened briefly before serving. Darker red cherry colour than the preceding 1985 and 1964 Riojas . Nose is lovely red plum fruit, oak, spice. Palate is similar but with real richness and weight. Packs a punch. Heady and resonant. Muscular. Really good and stood up exceptionally throughout a long lunch. This was the masculine member of the older Riojas. It seems bulletproof in terms of keeping for another 10 years of more. Thanks, Alexandria!

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  8/31/2016 - morpheusrising Likes this wine: 96 Points

  I have to reverse a lot of my last note on this wine. The last bottle saw signs of maderization most likely due to over-contact with oxygen during evaporation as evidenced by heavy ullage.
  
  This second bottle had similar ullage, a cork that was dried to concrete on the top 1/3 and soaked in the bottom 2/3. My hopes were dim to say the least.
  
  Wow! This was perfect. I would have guessed Bosconia blind on this one as it had all of the classic traits. Simply wonderful. From the first scent, we could tell this was going to be good. You could smell the freshness as if it was still youthful. The flavors told the same story with the classic Heredia notes of dried cherry, leather, a bit of wood and citrus peel.
  
  With a few of these remaining that are in better condition than this bottle, I will suggest holding for a while. This feels built like the 64, and although it may not age quite as long, it should still go well into the future. Amazing how Lopez can deliver such great wines in so-so vintages. World class stuff.

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  6/22/2016 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:

  On a par with the ‘64 and ‘73 we drank prior to this bottle.. Translucent red hue with terrific complexity and balance.

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  6/2/2016 - morpheusrising Likes this wine: 90 Points

  1st of a 5 bottle series won at auction. Ullage was heavy, 5cm below cork, so we were nervous.
  
  Definitely a bit maderized on the nose and front of the palette, cork was in good condition as was the wax and there was no sign of seepage, so ullage was due to evaporation.
  
  As stated, nose was a little maderized, but not enough to deter us! Bit of tobacco, leather, anise, and cherry, but not the bright dried cherry I usually associate with this wine. Palette was rich and brooding and a little sweet. Texture and viscosity were nicer than the '81, but the flavor was not quite as developed. Something tells me that the extra ullage on this bottle did a little damage. Just the same, this was still really good, just not on par with so many other Bosconia GR. To be fair, '78 is not the best year, so there's a lot of leeway here.
  
  Nice flavored of candied cherry, a bit of saddle leather, and still some of the classic orange peel but as if it had been dipped in chocolate first.
  
  If this is the worst bottle of the series, then I have high hope for the other 4 where ullage is much better than this one showed.

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