Bodegas Corral Rioja Gran Reserva

A birth year wine, and not a bad price at $74 via Wine Access. It was still just about holding up, though not particularly enjoyable if still mostly there. The wine, guys, the wine.

1976 vintage

As expected, fully-integrated and past prime drinking window, but had deep layers of flavor like something out of a solera process. It was purchased as a birth year wine for a friend, and for that purpose, did not disappoint, made a perfect sipping experience.

1976 vintage

Jim & Michelene's btl at out large group Rioja / Spain tasting tonight. I'm sure there was some nick picking some would find with this btl but for me I loved it's delicate and pretty raspberry fruit that had mellowed into something ethereal much like a 80yr old 1944 Gibson Southern Jumbo guitar's tone and gorgeous sunburst finish. Lots of patina and resonance here just like the legendary guitar. I double dipped on 2 small pours just to enjoy the …

1976 vintage

Needed about 5 hours of decanting to really shine.

1976 vintage

First bottle of six. A true disappointment. Yeah its a 90 point wine but since it is a new release from the winery, I would have expected better. Slightly smoky and fresh fruit of cranberry and other red fruit. Balance was ok and the finish was fruity with a light fine tannin. Hid its 13% alcohol well.

1976 vintage

Nice nose after about 15 minutes open. It has a light body. Was interesting having a 48year old bottle of wine.

1976 vintage

I've had and enjoyed both the 1973 and 1975 Corral Rioja Gran Reserva. They were delightful so I bought the 1976 and was looking forward to a similar experience. I was disappointed. For me I couldn't get past the nose which had a note that wouldn't dissipate and that I finally pegged as kind of funky dill (after reviewing some recent CT tasting notes of this wine). Swirling and smelling these wines in a large quality glass is half of …

1976 vintage

Visually: Tawny Nose: dill, pepper, mushrooms, tobacco, dried cherry. medium+ acid, low sweetness, low+ tannin, low body. Little fruit flavor; felt past its prime.

1976 vintage

I’ve never enjoyed a dry red wine at more than 30 years old; a true testament to the longevity of Rioja reds! Pretty amazing at 47 years. Did not decant; stood up, used an Ah-so cork puller and enjoyed with a chargrilled NY strip sirloin, asparagus and mushrooms. Displays a solid and deep garnet core with clear tawny bricking at the edges. Aromas of tomato leaf, roasted nuts, dried red currants, dying red flowers, shriveled red cherries, stewed raspberries, old …

1976 vintage

Garnet color with orange/copper rim. Aromas of tart cherry and cranberry with robust herbal notes. Volcanic rock, wild mushrooms, and savory herbs. Medium body and acidity with blossoming tertiary notes. Drinking beautifully right now.

1976 vintage

Family dinner over Easter. Nose fading but the taste, OMG.

1976 vintage

Decanted to get broken cork and a bit of sediment out although this wine seems obviously rebottled. It's not the original cork and bottle from 76. The color is still quite youthful. I would've guessed 20-25 rather than 47+. It starts off quite tertiary with tobacco, leather, dried fruit, cedar. Good acidity. Tannins resolved completely and no sense of the alcohol (13%). However, after an hour a lot of red fruit and even floral notes emerged before returning to more …

1976 vintage

Xmas dinner with short ribs and absolutely in great shape. Bottles pristine though pleased I a bladed cork puller.

1976 vintage

Did not drink, gifted to Andrew.

1976 vintage

No decanting. Pale garnet that reminded me of an old leather book. Some fruit on the nose, cedar, cigar box, worn leather, forest floor, wet leaves, very complex. Dried herbs, leather, red fruits, and dried tobacco on the palate. Dry, medium body, medium acidity, smooth with a long and sublime finish. Very interesting, complex, and expressive wine, a beauty at almost 50 years of age. Looking forward to my next bottle of this wine!

1976 vintage

Not as good as the ‘73, but really nice as a PnP but better balance with an hour of air. Cherry, rhubarb, clove, stewed fruit, saw dust, medium tannin and acidity, very good balance. This is at or slightly past it’s peak at this point.

1976 vintage

4th Saturday Uptown Brown Bagger (MM's) : Double blind. Pale garnet color. Mixed berry fruit, earth, cedar and baking spice notes with a pleasant funky/brett overtone. A touch light on the palate, but with nice fruit- cherry and macerated red berries, along with hints of sulfur and something a bit woody/stemmy in a good way. Overall very, very nice, but difficult to pin down. (R&S)

1976 vintage

Nose: old leather bound books, old leather, cigar box, uncooked mushroom, cherry Palate: cranberry, old leather, cherry, dried herbs, dried tobacco; med - body, silky smooth, glides over the tongue; med acidity; fine tannins that build Overall: the nose transports me to a sitiing in front of a roaring fire in a library filled with old books and dust, terrific.

1976 vintage

Method: slash decant of sediment (not a ton sediment); Bordeaux glass; cork in good condition but stained maybe 1/3 of the way up; great fill; cellar temp Look: pale (maybe pale-) garnet Nose: wet forest floor, cigar box, bit of fresh uncooked mushroom, cherry, light old worn leather, light licorice; super complex Palate: cherry, light medicinal cherry; long- finish cranberry, light dried herbs, dried tobacco, leather; dry; medium- body; light+ heavy suede-like drying tannins; medium+ acidity Overall thoughts: Excellent nose …

1976 vintage

Badly corked. Notified the source I purchased from asking for a replacement. A shame because this was supposed to be an 'old wine' palooza with my host DQ and I really wanted her to taste this old beauty.

1976 vintage

Absolutely stunning wine, which beggars belief that it is almost 50 years old. Opens with all the expected aromas for a well-aged red: leather, dried roses, dried orange peel, fig, and lots of delicious dark caramel. The bouquet then transitions seamlessly to the palate, again with orange peel; smoked paprika; plum; incense smoke; and cola and baking spices. As it opens in the glass, it shows incredibly fine cedary tannins with soy-like umami components. Finishes with hints of fennel, more …

1976 vintage

6/9/23. Opened 20 min prior to pour, but no decant. Slightly bricked color, but not exceedingly so. It still has a beautiful bouquet. Fresh and vibrant with florals and honeysuckle. First taste was amazingly fresh for the bottle age. Almost too fresh in my opinion for a 47 year old (?). Still plenty of fruit showing on this medium body beauty. Tannins we’re almost non-existent but acidity was present, although not strong. I tasted boysenberry and pepper, that evolved almost …

1976 vintage

Unfortunately this bottle was off. Such a shame, was looking my forward to trying something older than me for a while now. Oh well, always other opportunities

1976 vintage

Poured brownish red, nicely bricked and clearly old. Nose was dried dark fruit, baking spice, earthy Palate initially acidic and earthy with subtle fruit but with some time in the glass became pleasantly fruity with notes of dried dark cherries and raisins,.lovely sweet spice. Tannins were pure silk. My wife and her uncle who are not usually fans of highly aged wine were both huge fans, as was I. Lovely bottle paired with carne asada and chili lime corn on …

1976 vintage

1st wine I took to our blind tasting event last night. Pnp at home, a small taste poured off of this soon to be 50 yo bottle. Put a Repour stopper right back into it and transported to HMC's for our tasting event. The initial sip was of tart cherry with a rock salt chaser on the tongue after swallowing. A 1-2 punch sensation I have never had the pleasure of experiencing before! True salinity! Open 3 hours at our …

1976 vintage

Are you sure?

Bodegas Corral Rioja Gran Reserva

Vintages

Community Reviews