Marqués de Murrieta Reserva
Rioja, Spain
Vintage:2015 (Past)
2019 (Past) | 2020 (Current) | 2021 (Current) | 2022 (Pending)
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Reviews
Wine & Spirits 92 Points, Year's Best Rioja
“This grows at Finca Ygay, Murrieta’s estate in Logroño. It’s based on tempranillo (80 percent), with graciano, mazuelo and garnacha adding spice. Black and smoky up front, with dark-cherry richness, it has a silken texture and notes of cardamom to point up the meaty edges of the tannins. Its ripeness feels easy and relaxed, ready for duck breast seared rare.”
The Wine Advocate 93 Points
“The red blend 2015 Rioja Reserva is 80% Tempranillo with 12% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha, a little more Graciano and Mazuelo, something logical in ripe and warm years like 2015. It's produced with grapes from a diversity of the 30 different plots within the estate, to represent the character of it. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for 18 months. It's spicy and somewhat balsamic, with some dusty tannins. It's a ripe and powerful vintage that only suffers next to the 2016 I tasted next to it when there's a jump in precision and finesse.”
Wine Spectator 92 Points, #40 Top 100 Wines of 2019
“Cedar, tobacco, dried cherry and spice flavors mingle in this red. Features a polished texture, with well-integrated tannins and orange peel acidity. Supple, harmonious and graceful. Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2025.”
JamesSuckling.com 93 Points
“So fresh and elegant with more than enough concentration and structure, this is a fine example of a 2015 Reserva. Ripe-blackberry, licorice, smoke and bourbon notes. I love the velvety texture of the long, intense finish. Better from 2019 and with long aging potential.”
Overview
Marqués de Murrieta Reserva is a traditional Rioja wine crafted in the classic Murrieta signature style and enjoying all the benefits of modern winemaking philosophy, equipment and techniques. Made from Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, this wine embodies ripe fruit qualities with a perfect balance of acidity, supple roundness on the palate and a hint of new oak. The Marqués de Murrieta vineyards on the 741-acre Ygay Estate are located in Rioja Alta between 320 meters to 485 meters above sea level.
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.
Winemaking
Tangible proof of elegance, balance and constancy characteristic of the winery and its surrounding vineyards situated in the Ygay Estate, this is a red reserva wine with a balanced aging of 18 months in new and partly new American oak barrels and a year and a half in bottle. The result is an elegant wine that combines complexity and fineness, summing up the best attributes of Marqués de Murrieta's identity and actuality.
Grapes are first de-stemmed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks for eight days at controlled temperature in constant skin contact. During fermentation, pumping over and punching down operations are regularly carried out. These processes ensure both effective and gentle color and aroma extraction. Afterwards, the solid parts of the grapes are pressed in vertical presses with double screws.
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with baked red snapper with grilled vegetables in white wine, apple, lime and rosemary, or even lamb chops with buttermilk, asparagus and red wine. Decanting the wine for 20 minutes is recommended. Best enjoyed between 59º- 61ºF.
Technical Information
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 12% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo, 2% Garnacha
Wine Alcohol: 14%
Harvest Start Date: September 14, 2015
Harvest End Date: October 16, 2015
Aging: Aged for 18 months in 225-liter American oak
