Barón de Chirel Reserva 2019 is an exceptional signature wine from the century-old Rioja winery Marqués de Riscal. Crafted from a selection of grapes from very old vines, between 80 and 110 years old, with extremely low yield and great concentration. A true treasure.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
70% Tempranillo, 30% Otras
Type of barrel
French oak barrels from Allier
Type of bottle
Truncated Conical Bottle
Barrel aging time
16 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Total acidity (g/l)
3
pH
3.64
Alcohol content (% vol.)
15.5
General Information
Barón de Chirel 2019 is the latest vintage to see the light from one of the most exclusive wines of the iconic winery Herederos del Marqués de Riscal. Its first vintage, 1986, is considered by many connoisseurs as the precursor of the signature wines of the New Rioja.
Conceived only to be made with the fruits, mostly tempranillo, from harvests of exceptional quality and in very limited productions, Barón de Chirel undergoes fermentation in small-capacity Allier wooden vats to then complete a long aging process that varies in duration, depending on the particular characteristics of each vintage. This period is followed by at least 2 additional years of refinement after bottling, before being released to the market.
Barón de Chirel 2019 is a wine to savor the exceptional nature of the D.O.Ca. Rioja, especially with Iberian ham and aged cheese, all kinds of red meats and poultry, or game stews.
Tasting notes
In appearance, Barón de Chirel presents a beautiful dark cherry red color, with a high layer.
On the nose, it stands out for its powerful aromatic intensity, with predominant toasted and spicy notes provided by French oak, along with candied black fruit.
Fresh, creamy, and unctuous on the palate. Presence of soft and polished tannins. Long and balanced finish. Complex and elegant.
Creators' opinion
A la vista, Barón de Chirel es un vino de color rojo cereza con matices violáceos e intensidad media-alta, limpio y brillante. Tiene un ribete vivo sin indicios de evolución. En nariz es tremendamente expresivo, con una gran intensidad aromática protagonizada por los frutos negros pequeños maduros (arándanos, grosellas, casis, ciruelas damascenas, guindas en licor), seguidos de notas minerales del terruño, grafito, regaliz, suaves matices de violetas, hojarasca y musgo. Recuerdos de otoño. Especias picantes como el clavo y la pimienta negra, cacao y tabaco. Ligeros cueros al inicio que se van con la oxigenación. La madera está perfectamente integrada.
La entrada en boca es poderosa, densa y de gran riqueza. Aúna volumen, estructura y una textura sedosa que no finaliza nunca. Presenta taninos vivos, presentes pero maduros, que el tiempo irá puliendo. Es larguísimo y persistente, muy elegante, con una excelente acidez que le garantiza un buen potencial de guarda. La fruta está presente, así como las flores azules. Muestra muchos matices que tienen aún que ensamblarse. Los grandes vinos muestran sus hechuras desde su juventud y prometen una vida de décadas.
Barón de Chirel 2019 va mejorando con los días, una vez abierta la botella. Hemos podido comprobar como al día siguiente de su apertura aparecen aromas más frescos de fruta roja silvestre: fresa y frambuesa. La entrada en boca es mucho más amable y la sensación táctil es de mayor suavidad. Es un vino que puede permanecer abierto, conservado en buenas condiciones, durante 3 o 4 días, en los que no solo no pierde su esencia, sino que gana en complejidad, en equilibrio, tanto en nariz como en boca y se redondea.
The winery
Winery
Oenologist
Winemaker
Founded in 1858 in Elciego (Rioja Alavesa), Herederos del Marqués de Riscal is the oldest winery in Rioja alongside Marqués de Murrieta. In 1862, it marketed its first bottled wines, quickly garnering awards and recognition. Since then, it has maintained a prestigious trajectory, becoming one of the Spanish wineries with the greatest international projection (its wines are present in more than 100 countries). In 1972, it expanded its scope to the D.O. Rueda, producing its first white wines there. The year 2006 marked another milestone for Marqués de Riscal with the inauguration of the City of Wine in Elciego: a spectacular complex surrounding the old family winery, designed by architect Frank O. Gehry, featuring a hotel, fine dining restaurants, and a Vinotherapy center.
The World’s Best Vineyards 2020 list ranked Marqués de Riscal as the sixth-best wine tourism destination in the world.
In the D.O.Ca. Rioja, Herederos del Marqués de Riscal owns 540 hectares of its own vineyards and manages another 900 hectares from suppliers; all within the Rioja Alavesa subzone, spread across Elciego and neighboring villages such as Leza, Laguardia, or Villabuena, and cultivated with the grape varieties tempranillo, graciano, mazuelo, and cabernet sauvignon. On the other hand, in the D.O. Rueda, it owns 330 hectares of vineyards planted with verdejo and sauvignon blanc grapes, and oversees 500 hectares of managed vineyards. In 2018, 100% of the estate's vineyards were certified for organic farming. Marqués de Riscal also produces wines under the Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla y León designation.