Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2021 is a classic Rioja Reserva from Finca Ygay, the historic estate of Marqués de Murrieta in Rioja Alta. The wine largely comes from the estate's own vineyards surrounding the winery, situated at an altitude of 320–485 m, and is aged for 26 months in 225-liter American oak barrels. This 2021 vintage combines ripe red fruit, blackberry, rosemary, mint, cedar, and fine spice with the elegant acidity and smooth tannins that great Rioja Reserva is known for.
The grapes primarily come from Finca Ygay, Marqués de Murrieta's own estate in the southern part of Rioja Alta.
• Location / Origin: Finca Ygay is located in Rioja Alta and consists of 300 hectares of vineyards surrounding the winery. This château-like setup gives Marqués de Murrieta great control over the quality of grapes, plots, and harvest time.
• Altitude: The vineyards are situated between 320–485 m above sea level. This altitude helps combine ripe fruit with fresh acidity, which is important for a Rioja Reserva with length and aging potential.
• Soil: The soils are mainly calcareous and clayey. Clay helps the vines retain sufficient water, while limestone contributes to tension, structure, and refinement.
• Harvest: The grapes for the 2021 vintage were harvested manually between September 27 and October 15. By carefully harvesting each grape and plot, the balance between ripeness, freshness, and aromatic precision is maintained.
Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2021 is a Rioja blend with Tempranillo as its base, complemented by 3 classic grape varieties from the region.
• 86% Tempranillo – Rioja Alta: Tempranillo forms the core of the wine, providing ripe red fruit, structure, smooth tannins, and the recognizable Rioja base.
• 8% Graciano – Rioja Alta: Graciano brings freshness, color, spiciness, and extra tension to the blend.
• 4% Mazuelo – Rioja Alta: Mazuelo adds firmness, acidity, and extra length, giving the wine more backbone.
• 2% Garnacha – Rioja Alta: Garnacha adds roundness, juiciness, and a softer fruit note to the blend.
The vinification is classic for Marqués de Murrieta, with modern precision in the cellar and long aging in American oak.
• Fermentation: The grapes are destemmed and fermented for 8–10 days in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with continuous skin contact. During fermentation, remontage and pigeage are applied to carefully extract color, aroma, and ripe tannins.
• Pressing: After fermentation, the solids are pressed in a vertical press. This gentle pressing helps extract ripe tannins and color from the skins without making the structure too harsh.
• Aging / Oak aging: The wine is aged for 26 months in 225-liter American oak barrels. This long oak aging provides cedar, spice, roundness, and complexity, while the ripe fruit remains clearly present.
• Alcohol percentage: At 14% alcohol, this Rioja Reserva has sufficient strength for the long oak aging, without losing its fresh structure.
