In a world where wine often follows fleeting trends, Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Gran Reserva 2016 boldly honors tradition in a way that feels almost revolutionary. It’s widely regarded as one of the most iconic Riojas on the market, consistently earning top scores. For the 2016 vintage, it received 96 points from both James Suckling and Tim Atkin MW, 94 points from Robert Parker, and 93 points from Wine Spectator.
Founded in 1852, Marqués de Murrieta is one of Spain’s oldest and most historic wineries. Its founder, Luciano de Murrieta, learned winemaking techniques in the great châteaux of Bordeaux, where he discovered the importance of oak aging in crafting wines with depth and aging potential. Upon returning to Rioja, he became the first to use oak barrels in the region—forever shaping the style of Rioja wines.
The Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Gran Reserva 2016 was born in the Ygay Estate vineyards, located in the heart of Rioja Alta at elevations between 320 and 485 meters. The soils are rich in limestone and clay, and the grapes—Tempranillo (82%), Garnacha (9%), Mazuelo (7%), and Graciano (2%)—are cultivated with the utmost care. Each variety is vinified separately in stainless steel tanks with gentle extraction and precise fermentation. The wine is then aged for 26 months in American oak barrels, followed by several years of bottle aging before release. It’s a wine that pays tribute to the classic Rioja style while offering a subtle nod to the modern one.
Rioja Gran Reserva 2016 from Marqués de Murrieta is already a delight to drink, but it has the structure and complexity to evolve beautifully over the next 15 to 30 years.
