At Marqués de Riscal, they have records of 1947 being a year of long vegetative cycle because of a cold winter. Despite the scarce rain, August was not dry, and September was quite wet. It was a short but high-quality crop. The 1947 Gran Reserva has 11.9% alcohol, a pH of 3.32 and 3.3 grams of total acidity (sulfuric), with 45 total polyphenols. This is one of the greatest vintages of Marqués de Riscal, a monumental red that is still quite dark, compact and lively, vinous and concentrated. It's a powerful wine that had a shorter élevage in barrel compared with the other Riojas from the era, more in the style of a Bordeaux. At Riscal, they bottled early and aged the wines in bottle. This spent 47 months in barrel. It's balsamic, aromatic and complex and transmits a sense of energy and truth. The tannins are polished, and all the components feel vey much integrated. Seamless, long, awesome. I've had the luck to drink a handful of bottles from this vintage, and they have all been pretty consistent. There is no danger of the wine falling apart anytime soon. I've had pre-phylloxera Riscal, and it was alive after over one century, and I don't see why this should not live that long...