Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2017

The red 2017 Rioja Reserva is their flagship wine, of which they produce 900,000 bottles exclusively from grapes from their 300 hectares of estate vineyards. It's a blend of 83% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo (Cariñena) and 2% Garnacha and has the character of the vintage, ripe and warm but without excess. The varieties fermented separately, even different plots fermented separately, and they also aged in barrel on their own. The blend is done at the end, after 20 months in American oak barrels. 2017 was a challenging year that they still consider a better vintage than 2018, as they see more concentration and power. The wine is quite lactic and creamy, still showing very young. It does feel undeveloped and in need of some time in bottle. The wine has concentration and clout, and I always consider it an ultimate example of an updated classical Reserva from Rioja. 2017 was the earliest harvest (started and finished in September), a warm and dry year when the Ygay estate miraculously escaped the terrible frost that decimated most of Europe. The challenge for this wine was to contain the ripeness and power, and they have done it. This will be released in spring 2021, so it should be a lot more integrated by then. This is always a sure value. Volumes are lower this year.

Lightly baked and leathery berry aromas are subtle. This wine is racy and clipping on the palate, with popping acidity. Spiced plum and cherry flavors are backed by oaky vanilla prior to a persistent finish with classic Rioja notes of oak, tomato and bright acidity. Drink now-2030.

Deep, glistening ruby-red. Cherry, red currant, pipe tobacco and floral and vanilla accents on the expressive nose. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering bitter cherry, red berry, spicecake and candied rose flavors and a sweetening mocha flourish. Finishes very long and gently chewy, with a repeating cherry note and fine-grained tannins adding gentle grip. This is quite a successful wine given the challenges of the vintage.

Crisp acidity livens up the cherry and berry notes of this plush, harmonious red, with spice, cedar and graphite details chiming in on the plush finish. Drink now through 2027. 8,191 cases imported.