Pancrudo 2021 and Montes Obarenes 2016, from Gómez Cruzado; Gran Reserva 904 2005 and Gran Reserva 890 1981, from La Rioja Alta, S.A.; RODA I 1997, from Bodegas RODA; Prado Enea Gran Reserva 1970, from Muga; Viña Pomal Gran Reserva 1966, from Bodegas Bilbaínas-Viña Pomal and Viña Real Gran Reserva 1962, de CVNE, are the wines chosen for a journey through seven decades of tradition and modernity from the Barrio de la Estación
The writer and wine critic for Robert Parker’s journal, ‘The Wine Advocate’, appointed ‘Engine Driver of the Year’, will lead the tasting and after the event he will perform with his band ‘The Winedrinkers’
The writer and wine cricket for Robert Parker’s ‘The Wine Advocate’, Luis Gutiérrez, will travel back through seven decades, starting in 2021 and going back to 1962, through eight iconic wines from the wine cellars of the “Station Quarter”: CVNE, Gómez Cruzado, La Rioja Alta, S.A., Bodegas Bilbaínas-Viña Pomal, Muga and Bodegas RODA, in a tasting masterclass to be held on 14 June in Haro’s Barrio de la Estación. With his musical tasting he will play with time, stirring the memory with reminders of smell, sound and vision, placing the wines of the Barrio de la Estación in their context and tying them to the historical events and music of each era.
Pancrudo 2021 and Montes Obarenes 2016, from Gómez Cruzado, and the Gran Reserva 904 2005, from La Rioja Alta, S.A., will be the wines chosen to represent the 21st century in the tasting. These will be followed by the wines chosen from the 20th century, RODA I 1997, from Bodegas RODA; Gran Reserva 890 1981, from La Rioja Alta, S.A.; Prado Enea Gran Reserva 1970, from Muga; Viña Pomal Gran Reserva 1966, from Bodegas Bilbaínas-Viña Pomal, and Viña Real Gran Reserva 1962, from CVNE.
Luis Gutiérrez’s tasting masterclass will become an unforgettable experience for wine lovers to enjoy cult labels, some over a century old, with vintages which for the most part are no longer to be found on the market. It will also represent an opportunity to delve into the extensive history of the “Station Quarter” and the know-how that these bodegas have accumulated over time in the production of fine wines, forging the identity of Rioja, and characterised by elegance, balance and longevity, appreciated for their capacity to improve over time, and whose essence has survived to this day.
Eight great Rioja wines for a memorable tasting experience
Pancrudo 2021 is a Garnacha from the valley of the Alto Najerilla, from old, high altitude vines, a variety which displays its most unique, delicate, subtle expression in this territory traditionally known for its claretes, rediscovered to produce red wines with great finesse, acidity and fruitiness. Montes Obarenes 2016 is a tribute to the great white wines for laying down. A wine which aromatically comes close to the great Riesling and which on the palate reminds you of the great Burgundies because of its acidity, volume and finesse. They both belong to the Gómez Cruzado Selección Terroir line, in which the bodega explores the diversity of Rioja in a limited edition range of wines, with the focus on showcasing the maximum expression of terroirs with truly unique, singular features.
Gran Reserva 904 2005, which bears the name of its year of origin 1904, represents the finesse, elegance, subtlety and delicateness of a classic great Rioja ‘bouquet’, an outstanding example of the style of the Rioja Gran Reserva. Gran Reserva 890 1981, a label which first appeared in 1890, the year La Rioja Alta, S.A. was founded, is the wine for which the bodega has traditionally reserved its very best grapes and the most exceptional harvests, with only an average of 3-4 vintages produced in each decade. A magnificent, internationally renowned, example of a wine in the classic style from the Gran Reserva category, which has managed to adapt to each era, while always preserving its sophistication, complexity, elegance and personality.
RODA I 1997 is the expression of the darkest fruit of the harvest, wines with a profile with more depth and minerality. This concept of interpretation of the landscape brought a revolution at the start of the 90s, as a turning point in viticulture and oenology, and by showcasing the vineyards, grapes and wines. Very elegant wines, with an intense colour, moderate ageing, with the fruit standing out above the wood, good acidity, very fine tannins and a huge respect for the vine, which will live for decades. A new path which was opened in the decade of the 90s with its jubilant modernity, expressive fruitiness, elegance, delicacy and freshness.
Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva 1970 is the hallmark of Muga classicism and elegance, and a benchmark label for the family bodega. It comes from the highest vineyards of the valley of the River Oja-Tirón, grapes that ripen slowly and are picked in November, the latest to be brought into the winery. The result of a ‘coupage’ of the plantation itself, made up of 50% tempranillo vines, 20% garnacha, 15% graciano, 10% viura (mainly) and 5% mazuelo, with a clay soil which provides the acidity that permits long ageing and long life in the bottle. Muga published in various print newspapers at the time that the much demanded 1970 vintage had sold out.
Viña Pomal Gran Reserva 1966, as a brand of Viña Pomal, a classic Rioja label since 1904, is the flagship brand of Bodegas Bilbaínas. The values of authenticity, the reminder of its origins, tradition and a well-conceived classicism have been reflected in Viña Pomal Gran Reserva. The 60s and 70s were the decades which saw the greatest growth and splendour of Bodegas Bilbaínas. During this period, Viña Pomal became one of the reference labels for the style of classic, fine wine from the Rioja Alta and enjoyed great popularity in both national and international markets.
Viña Real Gran Reserva 1962 is true to the timeless CVNE Viña Real brand which dates back to 1920, as pioneers in obtaining wines from grapes from the Rioja Alavesa, but which were aged in Haro in the Barrio de la Estación de Haro. Historically, Viña Real has been characterised by its elegance and its extraordinary ageing potential, with body, backbone and aromatic intensity, with its fruit standing out. A careful balance between tradition and modernity.
The eight wines selected by Luis Gutiérrez for the tasting masterclass are the result of the excellence of the viticulture and the winemaking process, and they are all part of the Rioja heritage, as representatives of the historic roots of the reservas and gran reservas which have given the region its fame or opened up new paths from innovative concepts in the interpretation of the landscape or the in the approaches to winemaking. In all of their cases, they have contributed to the birth and consolidation of the top of the range Spanish wines from the Barrio de la Estación of Haro.
Concert by the ‘The Winedrinkers’ band
The exclusive tasting with Luis Gutiérrez will take place at 7 pm on 14 June in the space of La Marquesina in Bodegas Bilbaínas-Viña Pomal. Afterwards, starting at 9 pm in the gardens of the winery, the writer and wine critic will offer a concert with his band ‘The Winedrinkers’, composed of winemakers, cellar owners, journalists and other representatives of the world of wine. In the same setting, alongside the performance, refreshments will be served with various wines from the bodegas CVNE, Bodegas Bilbaínas-Viña Pomal, Gómez Cruzado, La Rioja Alta S.A., Muga and Bodegas RODA. Combined admission for this experience is limited and can be acquired at a cost of 150 euros via the link http://www.barrioestacion.com/visitas
This event will be the prelude to the Cata del Barrio de la Estación, which will take place on 15 June in this enclave, with the great celebration of the culture of wine and gastronomy, an opportunity to enjoy the emblematic labels of the “Station Quarter” and the gastronomic offerings of six Michelin-starred restaurants: Ikaro, Nublo and Ajonegro (La Rioja), El Serbal (Cantabria), Cobo Estratos and Erre de Roca (Castilla y León), who will also be joined by Delicious Gastronomía and Kankel Bean to Bar.
Interview with Luis Gutiérrez, ‘Engine Driver of the Year’ of the Cata del Barrio de la Estación
