Gran Coronas Black Label, as they were called in 78: Lovely, developed aromas with dark fruit, tobacco, leather and caramel, with the american oak flavors are still very evident. Fully mature, with some sweetness and almost no tannins left. Impressive for the age.
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This just keeps getting better. Nose is consistent with previous bottles, full of cassis, undergrowth, and leather, but more complete and full in this bottle - lots of dark fruit filling out the nose and the palate. The palate is silk - fully integrated, beautifully balanced.
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Sunday Night Dinner (RPM Steak - Chicago, IL): Gorgeous nose of currants, sweet cherry, violets, and smokey earth. Palate was in a great spot. Lots of sweet dark fruit, with some secondary spice tones. Really nice.
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En nariz muestra un carácter plenamente varietal, elegante, fino, lleno de fruta negra reducida (ciruelas maceradas, grosellas, moras), ahumados, hoja de habano y un rastro de cuero viejo, granos de café, vainilla, especias dulces. Resultón, tostado, sin apenas reducción en comparación con otras añadas. Hay apuntes balsámicos a pimiento, hinojo, pimienta negra, regaliz Zara y algo de latería de fondo. Evoluciona rápidamente sacando aromas de tierra húmeda, trufa negra y una retahíla de hojarasca y monte umbrío.
En boca algo más austero de lo esperado, sin tanta finura. Tostado, amargoso, equilibrado, con taninos fundidos, grasos, y una acidez justa pero suficiente. No se le ve mucha fuerza para aguantar más tiempo en botella. Hay que beberlo ya. Correcto, con encanto, aunque algo inferior al excepcional 1971 o 1975.
Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 90% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc - 12.5% vol. Uvas procedentes exclusivamente de un pequeño y selecto viñedo de cabernet sauvignon plantado en 1966 en el término municipal de Pacs del Penedès. Vendimia efectuada durante la primera semana del mes de octubre. Fermentación en cubas de acero inoxidable. Posterior crianza en barricas nuevas de roble americano y francés durante 6 meses. El vino continuó luego su envejecimiento en barricas de segundo y tercer año hasta el momento de su embotellado en noviembre de 1980. Permaneció descansando en los calados de la bodega hasta la fecha de su comercialización, en mayo de 1985. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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A strong musty note initially had me wondering if this was corked. Happily, that blew off quickly and it kept getting better over a few hours in a decanter. A dead ringer for a mature left bank Bordeaux, this was fantastic to drink with plenty of mature red fruit, cedar, tobacco and other savoury earthy and leathery notes all coming together very seamlessly on a polished, medium weight frame.
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Biryani @ Salil's (Vernon, CT): This seemed like a very sound bottle. The fill level was good and the color showed appropriate signs of age, with a healthy ruby middle. When first opened this seemed a bit musty and reduced. This improved remarkably with air, showing saddle leather, walnuts, cedar and sweet dried cherry notes. Perhaps there was a touch of oxidation, but this was still very enjoyable, and it kept getting better with air. The tannins were fully resolved and this was like liquid silk on the palate. This started to resemble an elegant, mature claret. Perhaps the oak was a bit sweet, but it was just a side note to an otherwise complex drinking experience.
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A very rewarding bottle of wine . A bouquet of cassis, saddle leather, and undergrowth that is complex and delicate. Fully resolved tannin on the palate, leaving behind a silky texture that is perfectly mature. This is a really wonderful example of elegant and mature Cabernet.
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Initially port-like taste and texture, certainly due to maturity of this bottle. Although the fruit is fading and color browning, still plenty of reminders of what made this, in my opinion, a profound bottle of wine.
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fine mature color, brick red along the rim and the age is showing through, delicate aromas of leather,fully mature (I presume allready for many years) but still holding up nicely; elegance on the palate with medium body; low in alcohol compared to today's modern wines and (therefore?) a pleasure to drink.
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Had this wine in my cellar for more than 20 years. Actually one of the first quality wines I bought as a wine-novice. Very pleasing nose of blackberries, underwood and vanilla. Delicate mouthfeel, with the tannins totally dissolved, and enough sap left to make this a very rewarding glass of wine. Old age peeking through in the finish, so drink up.
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This was the last bottle of a case of 1977 and 1978 which I picked up way back when for around $20 per bottle. They were elegant. The Cabernet really stood out. On the nose there was sweet vanilla, leather, some earth tones especially as the wines aged. They were velvety smooth, with flavors of cassias, smokey berries, and cooked fruit (when older). While the wines varied over the years, they exhibited both new and old world characteristics. I am adding this review way after the fact, but after having so much pleasure from these 24 bottles, I wanted a record of their existence.
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12/28/2023 - AudunG wrote: 91 Points
Gran Coronas Black Label, as they were called in 78: Lovely, developed aromas with dark fruit, tobacco, leather and caramel, with the american oak flavors are still very evident. Fully mature, with some sweetness and almost no tannins left. Impressive for the age.
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11/20/2019 - andtheodor wrote: flawed
Stewed plums, VA, and pickles. Not correct.
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9/28/2014 - gblacave wrote: 94 Points
This just keeps getting better. Nose is consistent with previous bottles, full of cassis, undergrowth, and leather, but more complete and full in this bottle - lots of dark fruit filling out the nose and the palate. The palate is silk - fully integrated, beautifully balanced.
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9/28/2014 - tooch wrote: 93 Points
Sunday Night Dinner (RPM Steak - Chicago, IL): Gorgeous nose of currants, sweet cherry, violets, and smokey earth. Palate was in a great spot. Lots of sweet dark fruit, with some secondary spice tones. Really nice.
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5/8/2014 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 88 Points
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Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/torres-gran-coronas-etiqueta-negra-1978.html
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Rubí marronoso de capa media-alta con ligeros precipitados en forma de escamas en la base de la botella. Reflejos granadinos y cobrizos, oscuro, cerrado. Borde estrecho, atejado, diferenciado del menisco.
En nariz muestra un carácter plenamente varietal, elegante, fino, lleno de fruta negra reducida (ciruelas maceradas, grosellas, moras), ahumados, hoja de habano y un rastro de cuero viejo, granos de café, vainilla, especias dulces. Resultón, tostado, sin apenas reducción en comparación con otras añadas. Hay apuntes balsámicos a pimiento, hinojo, pimienta negra, regaliz Zara y algo de latería de fondo. Evoluciona rápidamente sacando aromas de tierra húmeda, trufa negra y una retahíla de hojarasca y monte umbrío.
En boca algo más austero de lo esperado, sin tanta finura. Tostado, amargoso, equilibrado, con taninos fundidos, grasos, y una acidez justa pero suficiente. No se le ve mucha fuerza para aguantar más tiempo en botella. Hay que beberlo ya. Correcto, con encanto, aunque algo inferior al excepcional 1971 o 1975.
Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
90% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc - 12.5% vol.
Uvas procedentes exclusivamente de un pequeño y selecto viñedo de cabernet sauvignon plantado en 1966 en el término municipal de Pacs del Penedès. Vendimia efectuada durante la primera semana del mes de octubre. Fermentación en cubas de acero inoxidable. Posterior crianza en barricas nuevas de roble americano y francés durante 6 meses. El vino continuó luego su envejecimiento en barricas de segundo y tercer año hasta el momento de su embotellado en noviembre de 1980. Permaneció descansando en los calados de la bodega hasta la fecha de su comercialización, en mayo de 1985.
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5/4/2014 - rbs1 wrote: 93 Points
Never had any expectations when opening the bottle. Surprise, it kept getting better with air. Very smooth, with hints of tabaco, leather and cherry.
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3/8/2014 - salil wrote: 92 Points
A strong musty note initially had me wondering if this was corked. Happily, that blew off quickly and it kept getting better over a few hours in a decanter. A dead ringer for a mature left bank Bordeaux, this was fantastic to drink with plenty of mature red fruit, cedar, tobacco and other savoury earthy and leathery notes all coming together very seamlessly on a polished, medium weight frame.
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3/8/2014 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
Biryani @ Salil's (Vernon, CT): This seemed like a very sound bottle. The fill level was good and the color showed appropriate signs of age, with a healthy ruby middle. When first opened this seemed a bit musty and reduced. This improved remarkably with air, showing saddle leather, walnuts, cedar and sweet dried cherry notes. Perhaps there was a touch of oxidation, but this was still very enjoyable, and it kept getting better with air. The tannins were fully resolved and this was like liquid silk on the palate. This started to resemble an elegant, mature claret. Perhaps the oak was a bit sweet, but it was just a side note to an otherwise complex drinking experience.
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12/21/2013 - gblacave wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous note. This bottle was cloudy as I was unable to stand it up ahead of time and it probably suffered for it.
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4/15/2013 - Le Musigny wrote:
Nice bottle. Opened up after 30 minutes of air with nice dark fruit. Silky tannins are almost gone.
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11/22/2012 - gblacave wrote: 91 Points
A very rewarding bottle of wine . A bouquet of cassis, saddle leather, and undergrowth that is complex and delicate. Fully resolved tannin on the palate, leaving behind a silky texture that is perfectly mature. This is a really wonderful example of elegant and mature Cabernet.
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2/1/2012 - Le Musigny wrote:
The surprise of the night. Drinking very well with good fruit. Bought on release.
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2/7/2011 - jaytoc wrote: 90 Points
Initially port-like taste and texture, certainly due to maturity of this bottle. Although the fruit is fading and color browning, still plenty of reminders of what made this, in my opinion, a profound bottle of wine.
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8/14/2010 - psmith wrote:
Bordeaux-like flavors but a more characteristic sour cherry and rustic woody edge. Well resolved. Cool fruits. Nice.
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6/26/2007 - costamalfitana wrote: 90 Points
fine mature color, brick red along the rim and the age is showing through, delicate aromas of leather,fully mature (I presume allready for many years) but still holding up nicely; elegance on the palate with medium body; low in alcohol compared to today's modern wines and (therefore?) a pleasure to drink.
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4/18/2007 - roel wrote: 89 Points
Had this wine in my cellar for more than 20 years. Actually one of the first quality wines I bought as a wine-novice. Very pleasing nose of blackberries, underwood and vanilla. Delicate mouthfeel, with the tannins totally dissolved, and enough sap left to make this a very rewarding glass of wine. Old age peeking through in the finish, so drink up.
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4/9/1998 - Nyindallas wrote: 92 Points
This was the last bottle of a case of 1977 and 1978 which I picked up way back when for around $20 per bottle. They were elegant. The Cabernet really stood out. On the nose there was sweet vanilla, leather, some earth tones especially as the wines aged. They were velvety smooth, with flavors of cassias, smokey berries, and cooked fruit (when older). While the wines varied over the years, they exhibited both new and old world characteristics. I am adding this review way after the fact, but after having so much pleasure from these 24 bottles, I wanted a record of their existence.
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