Marques de Murrieta Gran Reserva 2016

Cellar for 20 years or more. Decant for up to an hour before serving. Marqués de Murrieta is a prestigious winery in Rioja, one of the world’s greatest wine regions. The story of the winery is almost the same as the story of Rioja wine. It was founded in 1852 by Luciano Murrieta, whose work in developing the region’s viticulture earned him the title of Marquis of Murrieta, and the winery has been considered Rioja royalty ever since. The winery is now owned by the Cebrián-Sagarriga family, who pick their fruits from a 300-hectare vineyard that surrounds the historic Ygay castle in Rioja Alta. The Gran Reserva is composed of 80% Tempranillo, 9% each Graciano and Carignan, and a final splash of Grenache. The result is a masterwork of Rioja wine, with rich aromas of blackcurrant, fig and strawberry. In the background, you can find a well of balsamic scents, minerality and lively spice. The blend was aged in American oak for 25 months before bottling, giving it plenty of earthy flavours. In the mouth, it is soft and elegant, with well-developed tannins and perfectly balanced acidity. The Gran Reserva shows a long finish, and although it is delicious to drink now, there is lots of room for further development in the bottle. It is worth pairing with something decadent, such as duck breast in a red wine sauce, or grilled chops of veal.