Marques de Murrieta Tinto Gran Reserva Rioja 2015 is a well-structured wine with longevity. It's a faithful expression of the vintage and the Ygay Estate. In the glass, it exudes balsamic aromas, with hints of spices, ripe black berries, cassis, and figs. The delicate aromatic range is completed with mineral and light earth notes. The wine is refined and it has a lively palate, with silky texture that is wrapped by polished tannins and a long, persistent finish.
Vintage 2015: This was a vintage from a warmer year, which benefited the higher altitude vineyards at Marques de Murrieta. A short, early harvest, with small berries, produced wines with concentration and richness, backed with a line of acidity.
Winemaking: The grapes are first de-stemmed and then fermented in temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks for 9 days, with constant skin contact. During fermentation pumping over and punching down operations are regularly carried out. These processes ensure both effective and gentle colour and aroma extraction. The solid parts of the grapes are then pressed in a vertical press. This is a gentle process that extracts colour and ripe tannins from the grape's skin. The wine is aged for 27 months in 225-litre American oak barrels and was bottled in May 2018.
Vineyards: The grapes were sourced from vineyards that lie within the 300 hectare Ygay estate, that's located in the southern point of the Rioja Alta wine area.
Wine Writer ratings:
James Suckling: 98 Points (Top 100 Spain)
Tim Atkin: 96 Points
Robert Parker: 94 Points
