Ruby red color.  Expressive if a bit austere on the nose: saddle leather, hearth smoke, dried tobacco, herb, rust, some textbook decay notes.  On the palate, it is  complex, savory and feral: dried cranberry and sour cherry fruit, game meat.  Firm acidity and tannins, not too furry or fierce.  Spicy grip.  A wine that builds and builds the longer you stay with it.  So a sneaky length.  A fine bottle of classically rendered Rioja.  Needs time.  Built for the very long haul; these seem to age effortlessly.  We sat down with a 1962 CVNE Vina Real Rioja in spring 2012 that was exquisite (with absolutely no hurry to drink!).  Till 2030+.