2011 - Marques de Murrieta Gran Reserva, Rioja

The 2011 Gran Reserva Limited Edition was cropped from an early and very healthy harvest, for them one of the greatest vintages of recent times, which delivered structured wines apt for long aging. This blend of 91% Tempranillo, 4% Mazuelo, 3% Graciano and 2% Garnacha Tinta certainly had a long élevage, 24 months in 225-liter American oak barrels. I was very pleasantly surprised by this 2011, a vintage that I had in mind as quite ripe, but here the fruit doesn't show any heat, it feels just perfectly ripe. With time in the glass it turns even more classical, with balsamic aromas reminiscent of cigar ash and incense. The palate is round, lush and juicy, with fine-grained tannins and very good balance. This is a barrel selection from the Reserva that they keep longer in barrel and bottle and sell as this Gran Reserva. This is one of the newest Murrieta wines. 50,000 bottles produced. It has been in bottle since September 2014.

(aged for two years in 225-liter, new and used American oak barrels) Deep brilliant red. A heady, spice-tinged bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, candied flowers, vanilla and woodsmoke, and a suave floral element emerges slowly. Stains the palate with sweet, seamless cherry, boysenberry, spicecake and mocha flavors that show very good depth and a spine of juicy acidity. The floral and spice notes return strongly on the impressively long, velvety finish, which is given shape by smooth, well-integrated tannins.