Marqués de Murrieta Dalmau Reserva
Rioja, Spain
Vintage:2020 (Current)
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Reviews
Vinous Media 93 Points
The 2020 Dalmau Pago de Canajas blends Tempranillo and Graciano with 12% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rioja Alta. This aged for 22 months. Aromatically layered, with camphor, menthol, balsamic herbs, cedar, cassis and deep black fruit, it's plush in feel with an energetic core and bold structure. The concentrated fruit and oak styling lean toward the New World, but the freshness reins in the overall profile. The 2020 is complex and modern.
Decanter 94 Points
Deep, plummy nose with a zesty twist adding unexpected freshness. Lively tannins, with minerality and lively spice. It's intensely broody yet unpretentious and relaxed, flowing in the mouth. Great complexity, matched by drinkability.
Wine Spectator 93 Points
This sleek racehorse of a wine is tightly meshed today but opens nicely in the glass, layering a fragrant overtone of spice box, incense, cured tobacco and tar notes with pureed mulberry, orange peel, red licorice and vanilla flavors. Shows good length and focus, structured by dense, fine-grained tannins that are deftly knit to the aromatic profile. Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Graciano. Best from 2027 through 2035.
The Wine Advocate 96 Points
The 2020 Dalmau Reserva was produced with a blend of 82% Tempranillo, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Graciano from Pago Canajas within the Ygay estate, nine hectares planted in 1950 on red stony soils where they seek low yields to achieve concentration. It's a powerful red, with 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.45 and six grams of acidity. The varieties were destemmed, then fermented separately in 13,900-liter oak vats with pumping over and délestage. The Tempranillo was picked on the 24th of September and the others on the 27th. They also matured separately in French oak barrels for 17 months, then blended and put in concrete for another 13 months, something that started in 2019 and continued, for even a longer time in 2020. This vintage continues the change towards freshness and elegance that I saw in 2019 but takes it even further. The wine is beautifully perfumed, floral and elegant, refined, clean, expressive and showy. It has a very subtle balsamic twist, a very harmonious and balanced palate and velvety tannins, superbly crafted. This has freshness and balance like I have never seen in Dalmau before. Bravo! It's approachable already and should continue evolving in bottle for a long time too. 14,962 bottles, 900 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in May 2023
JamesSuckling.com 96 Points
A fabulous modern expression of Rioja showing complexity, depth, structure and brightness. Grilled spices, cloves, anise, cocoa powder, sandalwood, blackberries, blueberries and dark plums. Naturally concentrated and full-bodied, but really vibrant and fluid, followed by firm tannins and a long, juicy finish. The wine seems to be less extracted this year, which is crucial to keeping the harmony. Already drinkable, but this will become more appealing in the next few years. Will age effortlessly.
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. To speak about Dalmau is to speak about Canajas, a unique single vineyard within the 741-acre Ygay Estate. The vines in that vineyard are more than 60 years old and are located at 465 meters. Long maceration during fermentation, aging in new French oak barrels and very limited production characterize the wine.
This modern Rioja wine made from tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon and graciano perfectly reflects the innovations taking place at Marqués de Murrieta.
Winemaking
Grapes are first carefully destemmed and then each variety ferments separately for 10 days. Tempranillo ferments in stainless steel and cabernet sauvignon and graciano in small oak vats. Pumping over and delestage (rack-and-return) operations are carried out on a daily basis.
The grapes are vinified separately to keep their peculiarities intact. Dalmau 2020 was aged 17 months in 225-liter new French oak barrels from Allier, and then 13 months in concrete vats before bottling.
Tasting Notes
A bold fruit-forward palate, with fresh acidity and silky tannins gives the wine structure, wideness and depth. With a perfect balance between elegance and power, Dalmau expresses the awesome personality of the vineyard it comes from.
Harvest Notes
Manually selected harvest done in small crates so that grapes reach the winery as soon as possible and in perfect conditions. The tempranillo was hand-picked on September 24th, and the graciano and cabernet sauvignon were on September 27th.
Food Pairing
Deboned ox tail with red wine, mint and clove flavoring, crunchy fried breadcrumbs; veal shank, potato croquette and red piquillo pepper; dark chocolate truffles. Decanting the wine for 20 minutes is recommended. Best enjoyed between 60º-64ºF.
Technical Information
Varietals: 82% Tempranillo, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Graciano
Wine Alcohol: 14.5%
Bottling Date: May 2023
Aging: 17 months in 225-liter French Allier oak barrels, 13 months in concrete vats