I have no idea how to rate this, as this is the oldest wine I’ve drank, and by a significant margin.
Auction bottle. Fill to high shoulder. Slightly depressed cork. Gently removed cork with Durand, 99% intact. Cork was completely soaked. Dense rusty color, almost like thin motor oil.
I would best describe the nose as dirt. Dusty soil.
I spent some time slowly sipping it after opening, as this was such a unique experience. I think the wine was very well stored and in good shape. It opened up a bit with air, and we drank it over the course of 2-3 hours with help from a decanter. I also left a half glass for the next day. There was a nutty almost port-like note, which disappeared the next day. Tomato paste. Dusty red berries, and a bit more fruit on day 2. Delicate medium- body. A remnant note of acidity. The wine felt to be in good balance, was well rounded, and had good length. After enjoying a glass as an aperitif, we drank it with beef stew which worked well.
Such a unique experience to understand how one of my favorite wines (La Rioja Alta 904) ages to full maturity in great years. I have no idea what the future holds for this wine, as I had no idea what a ~60 year old rioja would taste like. I cannot imagine it will improve from here. I do not know how long it will hold at this level, but I would guess well stored bottles will last for several more years. But this bottle felt fully mature to my naive tastes
konman32
That’s a crazy color. Looks like it could be oxidized; would explain the port-like notes. Really really cool bottle and excellent notes!
andtheodor
Yeah, that looks oxidized and the nutty/porty/tomatoey notes confirm it. I recently opened an [’81 LRA 904 in good company](https://imgur.com/EXnlbEh) which looked and tasted nothing like yours:
>Immensely aromatic with clove, cinnamon, piquillo peppers, tobacco, and orange peel. Palate shows some dill, walnuts, candy red hots, framed by robust oak tannin, finishing with juicy bordline blistering acid. Silken, succulent, and harmonious, the best of the reds tonight by a mile.
spierser
Curious, which auction site did you purchase from?
foreverfabfour
I recently drank (over Christmas) the 1972 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904.
Unlike yours appears to be , mine was not oxidized. However, it was sadly so far over the hill. I thought it would have held up better. I’d like to try to find another one to confirm it’s not a one off.
Glad you had a fun experience, that’s what opening this old bottles is all about! 😄
5 Comments
I have no idea how to rate this, as this is the oldest wine I’ve drank, and by a significant margin.
Auction bottle. Fill to high shoulder. Slightly depressed cork. Gently removed cork with Durand, 99% intact. Cork was completely soaked. Dense rusty color, almost like thin motor oil.
I would best describe the nose as dirt. Dusty soil.
I spent some time slowly sipping it after opening, as this was such a unique experience. I think the wine was very well stored and in good shape. It opened up a bit with air, and we drank it over the course of 2-3 hours with help from a decanter. I also left a half glass for the next day. There was a nutty almost port-like note, which disappeared the next day. Tomato paste. Dusty red berries, and a bit more fruit on day 2. Delicate medium- body. A remnant note of acidity. The wine felt to be in good balance, was well rounded, and had good length. After enjoying a glass as an aperitif, we drank it with beef stew which worked well.
Such a unique experience to understand how one of my favorite wines (La Rioja Alta 904) ages to full maturity in great years. I have no idea what the future holds for this wine, as I had no idea what a ~60 year old rioja would taste like. I cannot imagine it will improve from here. I do not know how long it will hold at this level, but I would guess well stored bottles will last for several more years. But this bottle felt fully mature to my naive tastes
That’s a crazy color. Looks like it could be oxidized; would explain the port-like notes. Really really cool bottle and excellent notes!
Yeah, that looks oxidized and the nutty/porty/tomatoey notes confirm it. I recently opened an [’81 LRA 904 in good company](https://imgur.com/EXnlbEh) which looked and tasted nothing like yours:
>Immensely aromatic with clove, cinnamon, piquillo peppers, tobacco, and orange peel. Palate shows some dill, walnuts, candy red hots, framed by robust oak tannin, finishing with juicy bordline blistering acid. Silken, succulent, and harmonious, the best of the reds tonight by a mile.
Curious, which auction site did you purchase from?
I recently drank (over Christmas) the 1972 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904.
Unlike yours appears to be , mine was not oxidized. However, it was sadly so far over the hill. I thought it would have held up better. I’d like to try to find another one to confirm it’s not a one off.
Glad you had a fun experience, that’s what opening this old bottles is all about! 😄