1982 Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Excelso - Gran Reserva

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 91 points

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  1/5/2016 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 89 Points

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  Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2016/01/excelso-1982-gran-reserva.html
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  De color rubí rojizo de capa media-baja, muy claro, límpido, sin asomo de precipitados. Reflejos ambarinos, vivos, brillantes. Ligera sensación de grosor, lágrimas densas. Borde amplio, atejado.
  
  Aromas de extrema madurez: melaza, tabaco Virginia, fruta escarchada, guindas, mermelada de naranja, con un marcado acento avainillado y de suero de coco de fondo. Se despliega sin prisas sacando tímidas notas tostadas, cuero viejo, cremosos, especias dulces, y un curioso apunte de fruta pasa (corintos, orejones, pajaretes) y glaseado de azúcar. No muy profundo pero agradable y cumplidor.
  
  En boca nos encontramos un vino más concentrado de lo que podría dar a esperar y que en muchas cosas recuerda a los Tête de Cuvée que elaboraba años atrás Bodegas Franco-Españolas. Sabroso, lleno, con un resto de madera y vainilla, y un tanino pulido pero presente. Persiste un matiz dulzoso y especiado en todo momento y una correcta acidez. Un tinto de factura correctísima que se deja beber muy bien. Le falta la profundidad de los antiguos Excelso; lo que tampoco es de extrañar conociendo el nivelazo de esta marca en el pasado. Recomendable!!
  
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  80% tempranillo, 10% graciano, 10% mazuelo - 12.5% vol.
  - La mayoría de la uva proviene de viñedos propios y una pequeña parte de pequeños productores de la Rioja Alta. Vendimia manual a mediados del mes de octubre y segunda seleccion en mesa a su llegada a la bodega. Realiza la fermentación alcohólica en depósitos de acero inoxidable a temperatura controlada. Transvasado a tinos de gran capacidad de madera vieja de la época fundacional en los que permanece durante 12 meses. Tras finalizar la fermentación maloláctica se estabiliza antes de ser trasegado para su posterior crianza. Madura entre 36 y 48 meses en barricas de roble americano de Ohio y Kentuky de 225 litros de tostado medio. Sometido a 2 trasiegas manuales cada año. Filtrado con claras frescas de huevo. Un mínimo de 3 años de guarda en botellero en los calados de Logroño antes de ser comercializado.
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  1/3/2015 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points

  Dark, but also moderately translucent mature orange color. Initially old and dusty nose, which opens up to reveal very developed and infinitely complex nose of wizened plums, raisin, dried flowers, dried figs and black cherries, some smoky character, a little bit of leather, light Tawny Port character, a hint of old furniture and a touch of balsamico. There's really a lot of everything. The wine is full-bodied, ripe and intense on the palate with complex, juicy and somewhat dusty flavors of red cherries, meaty umami character, tar, some earthy tones, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness and a hint of leather. The wine is still quite vibrant and somewhat structured, but mainly due to the high acidity - the tannins feel pretty much fully resolved, offering only the slightest of grip to the gums. The finish is remarkably complex and persistent with layered, mature and dusty flavors of black cherries, leather, dried flowers, some earthy sous-bois, a little bit of tangy gooseberry, a hint of sour cherry and an umami touch of dry-cured beef.
  
  A very impressive and complex Rioja Reserva with remarkable depth and stunning balance. The wine has been sitting on its plateau of maturity for quite a while, but it feels like it is still on it: there are lots of developed notes, but the wine still shows no signs of letting go yet. However, I have a strong feeling that the end is pretty nigh, so there is really no point in aging this wine further - it might hold on for a few years more, but there's not going to be happening any more development. A wonderful wine showing exactly why Rioja Gran Reservas should be drunk with some bottle age. Serve with or without food by decanting the wine off its deposit and pour it immediately afterwards; a wine like this might survive for a few moments of breathing, but most likely not much.

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