From 375. PnP: faded ruby with a little browning. Totally clear at the edges and then gradually coloring. Very little smell, may be a little dusty, faint red fruit. slightly tart, pleasant red fruit.
1.5 hours later. Nose of old leather and rotting vegetation (in a good way!). Taste has become richer, like caramel. A little hot and tannic. Beautifully complex.
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Another beauty tasted alongside the 3 star lunch at Restaurant Akelare, San Sebastian. There was some ullage in the bottle but the wine presented itself splendidly: Typical smell of "sweaty saddle" (I said: Sweaty socks") , leather, cold embers; very refined, suave and sexy on the palate and the nose and with a good finish which, at the end, became a tad acidic. A wonderful experience!
11x Mature Rioja (1928-1999): Three CVNEs from the 1960s tasted side by side. I’ve had amazing experiences with 60s wines from this winery before including a perfect 100 pts experience with a magical bottle of the 1964 Vina Real Gran Reserva a year ago. Hence, expectations for this series were quite high and that’s why the disappointment was immense with two out of three bottles showing faulty or dead. The 1962 Vina Real Gran Reserva (NR) was completely dead, well past its prime (probably a faulty cork as provenance was impeccable). The 1966 Imperial Gran Reserva (NR) was unfortunately corked. Fortunately, the 1966 Vina Real Gran Reserva (rated 94 pts) was singing and one of the wines of the night thanks to a lot of substance, sexiness, precision and tension. Like my 100 pts experience with the Vina Real from the same vintage, this needed time and got better by the minute. Despite to flawed bottles, I still think these old CVNEs are worth any search.
TN: Completely dead. Well past its prime.
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Cork intact. Expressive nose with smoke, tobacco, spices, strawberry, caramel. Very elegant, not much tannin left but very smooth, good acidity, very long finish. Really outstanding!
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Second bootle. Cork crumbled. Medium ruby color with bricking on edge. Clear. Nose excelent. Red cherries, smoked meat, leather. Elegant, intense, plenty of sweet red fruits, cherry, balanced, complex. Very long. With hours passing it is opening more and more. Splendid!
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2/14/2023 - kronfeld Likes this wine:
From 375. PnP: faded ruby with a little browning. Totally clear at the edges and then gradually coloring. Very little smell, may be a little dusty, faint red fruit. slightly tart, pleasant red fruit.
1.5 hours later. Nose of old leather and rotting vegetation (in a good way!). Taste has become richer, like caramel. A little hot and tannic. Beautifully complex.
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9/20/2022 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Another beauty tasted alongside the 3 star lunch at Restaurant Akelare, San Sebastian.
There was some ullage in the bottle but the wine presented itself splendidly: Typical smell of "sweaty saddle" (I said: Sweaty socks") , leather, cold embers; very refined, suave and sexy on the palate and the nose and with a good finish which, at the end, became a tad acidic.
A wonderful experience!
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11/29/2021 - Cailles wrote: flawed
11x Mature Rioja (1928-1999): Three CVNEs from the 1960s tasted side by side. I’ve had amazing experiences with 60s wines from this winery before including a perfect 100 pts experience with a magical bottle of the 1964 Vina Real Gran Reserva a year ago. Hence, expectations for this series were quite high and that’s why the disappointment was immense with two out of three bottles showing faulty or dead. The 1962 Vina Real Gran Reserva (NR) was completely dead, well past its prime (probably a faulty cork as provenance was impeccable). The 1966 Imperial Gran Reserva (NR) was unfortunately corked. Fortunately, the 1966 Vina Real Gran Reserva (rated 94 pts) was singing and one of the wines of the night thanks to a lot of substance, sexiness, precision and tension. Like my 100 pts experience with the Vina Real from the same vintage, this needed time and got better by the minute. Despite to flawed bottles, I still think these old CVNEs are worth any search.
TN: Completely dead. Well past its prime.
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3/28/2020 - humagne wrote: 97 Points
Cork intact. Expressive nose with smoke, tobacco, spices, strawberry, caramel. Very elegant, not much tannin left but very smooth, good acidity, very long finish. Really outstanding!
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11/24/2019 - Livonietisr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Second bootle. Cork crumbled. Medium ruby color with bricking on edge. Clear. Nose excelent. Red cherries, smoked meat, leather. Elegant, intense, plenty of sweet red fruits, cherry, balanced, complex. Very long. With hours passing it is opening more and more. Splendid!
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