Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2022

Marqués de Murrieta Reserva comes from Rioja, from one of the estates that helped define the region and its D.O.Ca. The blend is led by Tempranillo with Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha, each fermented separately in stainless steel so the parcels can be assessed before the final coupage. The wine then spends around twenty four months in American oak. American oak is more porous and higher in lactones than French, which is where the vanilla and sweet toffee character comes from, while the long ageing softens tannin and slowly builds tertiary savoury notes through steady oxygen exchange. Rioja's continental climate, with cold winters and hot dry summers moderated by Atlantic influence, gives ripe fruit balanced by firm acidity. The wine is deep cherry red. The nose shows red berries and cherry over vanilla, sweet spice and leather, and the palate is medium to full bodied with rounded tannin, savoury tobacco and dried herb tones and a long finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted for half an hour. It suits roast lamb and aged cheese.