Marqués de Murrieta - Reserva Finca Ygay 2016
Pairing Suggestions
Marqués de Murrieta - Reserva Finca Ygay 2016 (90 TSW)
This Rioja is an excellent value wine. About 21 euro for a 94 Parker and 94 James Suckling score wine.
The Marques de Murrieta Finca Ygay is best described as a beautiful classic red wine from the Rioja Alta, which is without a doubt the very best part of this famous Spanish wine region. The altitude provides coolness and a good difference between the day and night temperatures and this is an important element that gives a wine its refinement and elegance. Marqués de Murrieta is one of the oldest wineries in the Rioja.
The wine is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha tinta, Mazuelo and Garnacha varieties grown in Finca Ygay that can be found between 320 meters to 485 metres above sea level. The climate of this estate is continental. Thanks to the location of the estate, close to Sierra de Cantabria, the temperatures are very mild and the mountain is a barrier for the cold winds from the north.
As for the production, after destemming and a gentle squeezing of the bunches, the grapes undergo a fermentation in stainless steel deposits. Afterwards, it is placed in vats for 8 days.
Once the fermentation process has finished, the solid parts of the grape are pressed in vertical presses in order to obtain the best colour extraction and ripe tannins that reside in the skin.
Finally, Marqués de Murrieta Reserva rests for 16 months in American oak barrels and 24 months in the bottle.
2016 was a excellent vintage with volume that can be enjoyed as a young wine.
My tasting notes:
In the glass a medium ruby red color.
On the medium(+) nose aromas of black currants, blackberries and plums with hints of sandalwood, tobacco, vanilla, liquorice, sweet cloves and nutmeg.
On the palate dry, medium(+) bodied with medium acidity and tannins. Flavours of blackberries, cherries, vanilla, toboacco, smoke and herbs. Medium length finish. Already very nice but waiting a little longer will reward itself.