Label date was “6.78” making this release in 1978. What a fascinating bottle. The cork was completely soaked through, lots of nasty crud under the capsule. We’ve got a leaker! But the wine didn’t suffer in the slightest.
Poured off clear ruby, with just a touch of bricking along the rim. Quite translucent. The nose, at first, did not smell very nice. It smelled funky, dirty, a bit of VA. The initial taste also was not nice- thin, acidic, and soy sauce.
But the wine transformed after 10-15mins in the glass. I’ve read tasting notes describing how old Riojas can taste like fine aged Burgundy, and DAMN if that’s not true here. I never would have pegged this for anything other than aged high quality red Burgundy. The nose is full of raspberries, dried cherries, a bit of potpourri, and damp forest floor. There are some very pleasant citrus zest elements as well that add a lovely top note.
In mouth, the acid and body are both medium. Surprisingly fruit driven, more cherries than anything else, with a lovely refreshing Italian digestivo bitterness on the finish. There is an umami flavor that is irresistible and goes so well with food. Tannins are long gone, making this a smooth, velvety, and very pleasant wine to drink. There is not a lot of power here, but instead a mood of being laid back, taking your time, and having a calm pleasant time.
Believe it or not, the half bottle I decanted off and stored in the fridge drank at a very high level 4 DAYS LATER! No joke. This wine has plenty of gas left in the tank.