1928 Federico Paternina - Rioja Gran Reserva - 2 Bottles (0.75L)

+++ No grouping of lots. Each lots ships individually +++

2 x Bottle of 1928 Paternina Gran Reserva from Federico Paternina Winery in Ollauri, La Rioja - Spain

Purchased from a highly reputable retired restaurateur in the north of Spain, these are pure history. A must try for any collector who wishes to understand a classic Rioja fully matured. Fill level is ok for its age at mid/low shoulder. No leeks, cork seems fine and the capsule is holding great for its age. The wine coulour (see pictures) is perfect.

About Paternina Gran Reserva 1928
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First bottled in the mid-1940s. Following a rigorous selection process, the owners decided to store some barrels for an additional 25 years in the old cellars of the Ollauri Conde de los Andes winery. Then, in 1968, all the barrels were refilled and bottled. Only one oak barrel was reserved for bottling in 1976 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Federico Paternina winery. These bottles were sealed with wax to distinguish them from the other stored vintages.

A selection of grapes from different plots in the Rioja Alta region, owned by the winery and from local producers. It remains for 18 to 24 months in large wooden vats dating back to the winery's founding, until fermentation is complete and it rests before being racked for further aging. Aged in used 225-liter American oak barrels (and other sizes) with several manual rackings on a regular basis until bottling in mid-1968. Sold on demand directly from the winery's cellars.

Blend: 80% tempranillo, 20% garnacha, mazuelo y graciano

Tasting Notes
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Very pale ruby-brown in color, with a very low density. It resembles a brandy with amber, mahogany, and orange highlights.

The impression was of an old, tired wine, one that had aging problems. How wrong I was... Refined, open, in top form, with a class and a reductive elegance that only some Paternina GR wines from before the 1960s display. This is one of those truly great Rioja wines. It has a classic bouquet that encapsulates the winery's identity. There's a hint of coffee beans, withered roses, a medley of smoky peppercorns, and an increasingly powerful earthy background where baked clay, earthenware, fallen leaves, and a touch of dried fruit, chestnut cream, and a subtle, almost imperceptible patina of exotic woods blend together, along with a hint of sage and mountain herbs. It's expansive, never faltering.

On the palate, it's perfectly rounded. Ample, well-structured, and understated, it's full of exceptionally ripe sensations (with a touch of sweetness) yet retains its freshness and that sparkling vivacity so characteristic of old Paternina wines. The tannins are exquisite, leaving a peppery acidity that lingers on the palate for hours. It's impossible to say this is a wine approaching 100 years old.

Shipping is from/to EU MAINLAND ONLY (no islands) in certified protective cardbox.