El Reserva de Marqués de Riscal is a safe bet and one of the most well-known wines outside our borders. Marqués de Riscal Reserva 2019 falls within the best Riojan classicism: fresh, friendly, and elegant. Great aging potential.
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
Type of barrel
American oak barrel
Barrel aging time
24 months
Capacity (cl)
75
General Information
Marqués de Riscal Reserva 2019 is made with tempranillo complemented by a touch of graciano. The grapes come from old vines, planted before the 70s, located in the best clay-limestone soils of Rioja Alavesa. A historic reserva from a prestigious, recognized, and classic winery, perfectly adapted to modern times. It has a long aging process of 24 months in American oak barrels and a minimum bottle aging period of one year. It is now at a great moment for consumption.
Surely, for many, their inclination for Rioja began with a good bottle of Marqués de Riscal. We are talking about a heavyweight and one of the most recognized brands by the general public. Founded in 1858, its history is full of merits: it was a pioneer in producing quality wines in Rioja following the Bordeaux style and methods and has successfully transitioned to our times with a very well-positioned range of wines.
Marqués de Riscal Reserva 2019 pairs well with ham, semi-cured cheeses, stews with not very spicy sauces, cooked or stewed legumes, poultry, red meats, grilled meats, and roasts.
Creators' opinion
Marqués de Riscal Reserva is a wine with a deep cherry color, intense and with barely any signs of evolution. On the nose, it is very expressive with notes of regaliz, cinnamon, and black pepper, where the long aging in wood is barely noticeable, thanks to its great complexity and concentration of ripe fruit. On the palate, it is fresh, with very pleasant polished tannins, with good structure but easy to drink. The finish is long and leaves slight balsamic memories of great quality.
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.