2016 Bodegas Burgo Viejo Licenciado Rioja Reserva Spain is sold out.

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95 Points: “Distinctly Pure, Vivid Reserva”

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  • 95 pts Decanter
    95 pts Decanter
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2016 Bodegas Burgo Viejo Licenciado Rioja Reserva Spain 750 ml

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  • Curated by unrivaled experts
  • Choose your delivery date
  • Temperature controlled shipping options
  • Get credited back if a wine fails to impress

“An Impressive Reserva Statement of Intent”

We were on the verge of calling this RIoja a Collector Must-Have. But on second thought, we decided that the 95-point 2016 Bodegas Burgo Viejo Licenciado is a savvy pickup for any Wine Access member seeking to experience the magic of top-tier Rioja at a fraction of the price it’s worth. 

If you’re building a cellar, this is an exemplary candidate—the 95-point Bodegas Burgo Viejo Licenciado is built for the long haul, offering a rare single-vineyard expression of Rioja Oriental. But there’s no need to wait to enjoy this exceedingly generous bottle, which is already decked out in spicy black fruit and begging to accompany a rack of grilled lamb right now.

The 2016 Licenciado spent four years aging before we uncorked it last week and poured four ruby-hued ounces into our oversized Riedel stemware. As we swirled, pronounced aromas of cranberry and black cherry burst from the glass, seamlessly layered with leather, pipe tobacco, savory herbs, and a hint of dried orange peel. The freshness and clarity of the fruit was thrilling, and the wine's power was stirring. In their 95-point review, Decanter labeled the 2016 a “distinctly pure, vivid Reserva,” as well as “savoury, rich, lifted and long; an impressive reserva statement of intent.” 

The stunning purity and classic drive of the 2016 Reserva come from its singular composition: 100% Tempranillo from 35-year-old vines planted at the foot of Monte Yerga in Rioja Oriental—all from the Licenciado Vineyard. Noted for its pedigree, Licenciado is also a source for the Burgo Viejo Gran Reserva. Winemaker Gorka Etxebarria recognized the incredible potential of these vines back in 2003 when he took over at family-run Bodegas Burgo Viejo and made the choice to craft his Reserva as a single-vineyard, single-varietal wine—a rarity in Rioja. 

Etxebarria left the 2016 Reserva to age in French and American oak barriques for a full 18 months before bottling, polishing the wine like a fine gemstone and adding sweet spice to the Tempranillo’s savory depths. The result is one of the finest Riojas we’ve tasted in recent memory, an “effortless” and “beautifully balanced” Reserva priced for cellar stuffing, and with the legs to age a decade or more.