Marques De Murrieta Tinto Reserva 2020

Marqués de Murrieta Tinto Reserva, Rioja Alta, Spain, 2020    

Grapes: 82% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Garnacha. Aged 21 months in 225 litre American oak barrels.

Producer Tasting Note: 

The first impression of this Marqués de Murrieta 2020 is a miscellany of raspberry, blueberry and cherry aromas enhanced by hints of thyme, rosemary and sandalwood. Straightforward and precise with a juicy fruity profile, moulded by fine tannins and a fresh, pleasant finish.

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. 

Critic's Tasting Notes:

"The 2020 Rioja Reserva, their flagship wine, comes from the 300 hectares of estate vineyards. Here, Tempranillo is the backbone, making up 82% of the blend in the low-yielding vintage of 2020, complemented with 8% Graciano, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Garnacha. It has controlled ripeness at 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.65 and 5.1 grams of acidity. I loved the aromatics here—floral and elegant, more in the style of the 2018 than the 2019. it's lighter, more elegant, fine-boned and has a silky texture and very fine tannins. Both 2019 and 2020 are very good, but 2020 is more my style. 980,000 bottles produced. It was bottled after 21 months in American oak barrels."

94+/100 points, Luis Gutierrez, WINE ADVOCATE, February 2024

"Harmonious, textbook Rioja that shows cedar, spiced strawberries, vanilla and plums. Really polished on the palate, with fresh acidity and a linear, lengthy finish. Very subtle extraction makes this a really balanced, harmonious Rioja that’s appealing now. But the balance will help it age well for the next few years."

94/100 points, James Suckling, August 2024

Also awarded 94/100 points by Tim Atkin MW, January 2024

We recommend decanting the wine for 20 minutes and serve it at around 16° - 18°C (61° - 65°F) to let the wine breathe and show its full aromatic potential. 

Pair with red tuna grilled with viura shoots, bittersweet piquillo pepper and soya with roasted onion;

Galician blond beef tail in cannelloni, baked potato and red wine;

Vine shoots grilled turbot in olive, rosemary and spices.