Marqués de Murrieta Capellanía White Reserva
Rioja, Spain
Vintage:2019 (Current)
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Reviews
JamesSuckling.com 96 Points
Steely and floral nose of white nuts like macadamias, meringue, star fruit and a touch of green pineapple. Round and full-bodied but surprisingly bright and lively, with vibrant acidity providing the backbone. Really long and pure, while there is also suppleness and fleshiness. From the five-hectare Capellania vineyard, where most of the vines are over 100 years old. One of the best viuras out there. Lovely now, but you should seriously consider aging this.
Wine Spectator 93 Points
A racy burst of acidity creates an initial linear feel on the palate of this intriguing white, which quickly broadens to reveal layer upon layer of finely meshed flavors, from rich notes of toasted almond and crystallized honey to elements of tangerine peel and baked pear fruit, dried mint and beeswax. The lively acidity works in tandem with an underlying streak of salinity that drives through the lasting, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2030.
View From the Cellar 94+ Points
The 2019 vintage of “Capellanía” Blanco is the soon to be released next version of this fine white Rioja from Marqués de Murrieta. The wine is made entirely of Viura, planted on six hectares of land at the highest altitude on the estate’s famous Ygay property. The wine is fermented in large concrete vats and aged for twenty-two months in new French Burgundy casks. The 2019 offers up a beautiful, youthful bouquet of pear, raw almond, a beautiful base of white soil tones, dried flowers, a whisper of wild fennel and a gentle framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and impeccably balanced, with a lovely core of fruit, fine soil inflection, zesty acids and a long, focused and nascently complex finish. This is already a delicious glass of wine, but it is still fairly primary and far more complexity will emerge if it is given some time to hibernate in the cellar. Great juice! 2024-2060.
The Wine Advocate 95 Points
2019 saw an early start of the harvest, with low yields and small grapes with concentration but balance. The 2019 Capellanía, an update on the long-aging whites from yesteryear, was produced with grapes picked on the 10th and 11th of September. The must fermented in concrete and matured in French oak barrels for 23 months, followed by another 13 months in concrete. It did not go through malolactic. They increased the time in concrete after aging in barrel, which seems to have worked very well; the wine is subtler, more elegant and balanced. It's direct, precise, fresh and elegant, with a vibrant palate and certain lightness. It has energy and light. 30,378 bottles and 1,204 magnums produced. It was bottled in May 2023.
Vinous Media 93 Points
Viura is known for its bold palate and refreshing core. This presents a unique challenge for winemakers, who often emphasize one aspect over the other. However, the 2019 Capellanía achieves a remarkable balance of both. Sourced from Pago Capellanía, a vineyard planted in 1945 within the highest plateau of Finca Ygay in Rioja Alta, the 2019 aged for 23 months in French oak barrels. Exhibiting a yellow hue with a golden sheen, it offers fruity aromas intertwined with a subtle oak backbone, accentuated by notes of caramel, flan and a hint of fennel. On the palate, it is both creamy and refreshing, leaving behind a lingering, subtle chalky texture.
Overview
The Cebrián-Sagarriga family, who in 1983 acquired the winery, established in 1852, has a distinct winemaking philosophy that is founded in the pursuit of quality and excellence through tradition and innovation.
Capellanía is made solely from viura grapes from the winery's 14.8-acre Capellanía vineyard, originally planted in 1945 and located on a plateau at 485 meters, the highest altitude of the 741-acre Ygay Estate in Rioja Alta. A deep golden color, its complex aroma and rich taste are the hallmarks of this world famous white wine.
Capellanía comes out as the bridge between the complexity of past wines with extended oak aging periods, and the cleanliness, freshness and defining style of the current wines. In the search for less oak influence, Capellania is the updated version of the historic white wines of Marqués de Murrieta which traditionally went through decades of oak aging.
Winemaking
After a manual harvest, grapes are carefully crushed and after a short skin contact they are gently pressed in a vertical press. This is a gentle and slow process that favors the extraction of all the aromatic potential from the low-yield viura grapes. The juice is then settled and fermented in a 9,400-liter concrete vat for 35 days.
Tasting Notes
A nose shaped by aromas of white stone fruit, pine nut, bay leafand hazelnut skin. Smoky and mineral glints embrace the elegantmixture. Precise fruit palate and fluid texture. Pure balance.
Food Pairing
Caramelized eel with buttercream, acid apple and foie layers. Steamed and roasted red bream, its collagen, red shrimp royal and roasted leek. Grilled-roasted scallop with egg flower, smoked potato and white truffle. Triple cooked Poularde de Bresse roll with chestnuts and Kumquat tangerine.
Technical Information
Varietals: 100% Viura
Wine Alcohol: 14%
Bottling Date: May 2023
Aging: 23 months in 225-litre new French oak barrels and 13 months in concrete vats