1968 Valoria Tinto

The 1968 Vina Valoria is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano and 10% Mazuelo and was aged in used American oak for four years. It has a deep color considering its age, and is endowed with a very rich bouquet with notes of sloes, small red cherries, a touch of brown sugar and tobacco that displays moderate definition. While I would not describe it as an elegant wine, it has an appealing viscous texture and is surfeit with sweet red fruit laced with allspice and sloes. It fades a little in the glass unlike the superior 1973. Nonetheless, it is still an admirable mature Rioja, albeit one that is not as sophisticated as I hoped. Vina Valoria is one of the region’s stalwarts founded by the Perez Foncea family in Fuenmayor. They source grapes from Rioja Alta that are raised in American oak. Importer: Quintessential, New York, NY; tel: (646) 484-6411