2021 Marques de Murrieta Tinto Reserva Rioja

Over the past 15 years, the Estate of Marques de Murrieta has established itself as one of the most iconic names in Rioja.  Their 2021 Reserva has just been released and we are simply delighted with the quality, as are the critics:

97 points Proensa + 94 points James Suckling + 95 points Tim Atkin + 96 points Decanter + 93 points Guía Peñín

95 points Luis Gutierrez, RobertParker.com, February 2025
Their flagship wine comes from one of the finest vintages in recent times. The 2021 Marqués de Murrieta was previously called the Reserva and still qualifies as such, but it's not included in the name now. It was produced with 86% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha Tinta from their 300 hectares of vines in their Ygay estate on limestone and clay soils with alluvial influence.

The grapes were picked between the 27th of September and the 15th of October, and each plot and variety was vinified separately in stainless steel, matured in American oak barrels for 26 months, then blended and kept in concrete for a few months until bottling, which was a longer élevage this year. It's very spicy, peppery, with a combination of berry fruit and some incipient tertiary aromas, hints of forest floor and truffle. It's very Rioja, with clout, elegance and freshness and the elegant tannins that are the signature of 2021. It comes in at 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.6, denoting ripeness and balance. It's delicious, fresh and available. Bravo!

Drink 2025-2038.