Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva Finca Ygay 2018
(Rioja, Spain) - [WA 94] [JS 94] [TA 94] [WS 91]
Regular price $35.00 Sale price $29.97 Save $5.03
About the Winery:
Established in 1852, Murrieta is one of the oldest and most respected bodegas in Rioja Alta. Their wines are concentrated and long-lived and some, like “Castillo Ygay", have become legendary amongst wine-lovers. Marques de Murrieta has not stood back and stagnated however; their 300 hectare estate produces Dalmau - a blend which represents an avant-garde expression of their terroir.
The Cebrián-Sagarriga family, who in 1983 acquired the winery, established in 1852, has a distinct winemaking philosophy that is founded in the pursuit of quality and excellence through tradition and innovation. To speak about Dalmau is to speak about Canajas, a unique single vineyard within the 741-acre Ygay Estate. The vines in that vineyard are more than 60 years old and are located at 465 meters. Long maceration during fermentation, aging in new French oak barrels and very limited production characterize the wine.
A palpable example of the elegance, consistency and regularity that characterize Marqués de Murrieta winery. This wine shows the incredible personality of the Ygay Estate and summarizes perfectly what happens during a whole vegetative cycle.
Its is made with tempranillo, mazuelo, Graciano y garnacha. Each variety adds its personality to obtain a balanced wine after the barrel ageing.
Vineyards: Grapes are mostly sourced from our Ygay Estate: 300 hectares of vineyards surrounding the winery in the southernmost point of Rioja Alta with mainly calcareous-clay soils. Altitude ranges from 320 to 485 meters.
Winemaking: Grapes are first de-stemmed and then fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for 8 - 10 days, with constant skin contact. During fermentation pumping over and punching down operations are regularly carried out. These processes ensure both effective and gentle color and aroma extraction. Afterwards the solid parts of the grapes are squashed in a vertical press. This is a gentle process that extracts color and ripe tannins from the grapes skin.
Aging: The wine is aged for 24 months in 225-litre American oak barrels.
Ratings & Reviews:
94 Points - James Suckling:
"Savory cured-meat, tobacco and grilled-spice notes to the bright plum, red-date, cherry and green-olive aromas. Quite a juicy, medium-bodied Rioja with fresh and extremely silky tannins caressing the zesty orange and crunchy red-berry flavors. Nuanced, fluid and effortlessly drinkable. Long and extremely elegant. A vintage that highlights layering and freshness, rather than power and depth."
94 Points - Tim Atkin, MW:
"The 2108 release is the latest in a line of stylish Reservas from Marqués de Murrieta, all the more impressive when you know that 1.2 million bottles were made. Combining Tempranillo with 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha, all of it aged in American oak. Structured, serious and intense, with lots of perfume, racy acidity, wild herb, plum and red berry fruit and a spicy finish. 2023-32."