Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2022
(Rioja, Spain) - [DM 95] [TA 95] [WA 94+] [JS 94] [VM 94] [WS 92]

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. The Marqués de Murrieta vineyards on the 741-acre Ygay Estate are located in Rioja Alta between 320 meters to 485 meters above sea level.

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.

Tangible proof of elegance, balance and constancy characteristic of the winery and its surrounding vineyards situated in the Ygay estate, this is a Rioja Reserva with a balanced aging in new and partly new American oak barrels and time in bottle. The result is an elegant wine that combines complexity and fineness, summing up the best attributes of Marqués de Murrieta's identity and actuality.

Grapes are first de-stemmed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks for eight days at controlled temperature in 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 pressed in vertical presses with double screws.

Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 7% Mazuelo, 6% Graciano, 2% Garnacha
Wine Alcohol: 14%
Aging: 25 months in 225-liter American oak

"The 2022 vintage of Murrieta’s Reserva continues on its path to elegance with this blend of 85% Tempranillo 7% Mazuelo, 6% Graciano and 2% Garnacha. American oak adds polish, effortlessly enveloping rose petal, damson and red cherries, and lending just the faintest hint of chocolate. It's fine, precise and, despite many years of development to come, it's immediately approachable. A wine evolving with the times and, quite rightly, one of the flagships of the region. Drinking Window: 2026-2042." -Beth Willard (Jun 2026)

Score only — full tasting note is behind Tim Atkin's paywalled subscription. (Jan 2026)

"The flagship white-label Reserva-style red 2022 Marqués de Murrieta wants to showcase the personality of the estate through blending places and grapes. In the 2022 vintage, it's 85% Tempranillo, 7% Mazuelo, 6% Graciano and 2% Garnacha. In the warmer and drier year, with two important heat waves that hurried things up, the grapes were hand-harvested between the 7th and 23rd of September, quite early, and they fermented separately in stainless steel. The wine matured in 225-liter American oak barrels for 25 months."

"Aromas of plums, cherries and touches of cedar and dried flowers. Medium- to full-bodied with polished tannins that are well integrated, supporting red and dark fruit flavors and subtle cedar notes. A well-crafted red. Precise, with impeccable balance and a savory touch. Tempranillo with around 7% mazuelo and 6% graciano. Drink now or hold."

"The 2022 Marqués de Murrieta comes from a slightly solar vintage and was aged 25 months in oak. On the nose, intense fruit leads the way, with blackberry, plum and a hint of cassis framed by delicate oak tones of cedar and sandalwood. On the palate, it is dry and marked by lightly gripping tannins, pivoting between juiciness and freshness for the year. Relative to the excellent 2021, it feels more built, with greater aromatic intensity and a slightly firmer structure. Drinking Window: 2026-2050." -Joaquín Hidalgo (Apr 2026)

"A finely balanced red, refreshing and focused. Sculpted, chalky-edged tannins provide a firm structure that’s nicely meshed with flavors of pureed mulberry, macerated black cherry, minerally iron and graphite. A savory push of herbed olive shows on the finish. Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2037."