Wine: Marqués de Riscal 2001 Gran Reserva
Winery: Marqués de Riscal (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% others
ABV: 14% vol.
Winery: Marqués de Riscal (Elciego, Álava)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% others
ABV: 14% vol.
Winemaking:
Grapes sourced entirely from estate vineyards and small local producers in Rioja Alavesa with multi-generational ties to the winery. All vineyards average over 30 years of age. Manual harvest followed by a second selection on a sorting table upon arrival. Each variety is vinified separately until the final blend is decided. Alcoholic fermentation in tanks at controlled temperatures (max 26°C), with a 14-day maceration period. After blending, the wine aged for 32 months in oak barrels. Minimum of 3 years of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before release. Presented in magnum format.
Grapes sourced entirely from estate vineyards and small local producers in Rioja Alavesa with multi-generational ties to the winery. All vineyards average over 30 years of age. Manual harvest followed by a second selection on a sorting table upon arrival. Each variety is vinified separately until the final blend is decided. Alcoholic fermentation in tanks at controlled temperatures (max 26°C), with a 14-day maceration period. After blending, the wine aged for 32 months in oak barrels. Minimum of 3 years of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars before release. Presented in magnum format.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Garnet-red color with medium-high depth; dark and highly extracted.
Brilliant garnet and orange reflections; clean, although it shows
significant sediment at the base, suggesting it was likely unfiltered.
Narrow, coppery rim.
Nose:
Uninhibited, open, and perfumed. It opens with explosive high-quality
toasted notes reminiscent of ground coffee and chocolate liqueur. The
intensity then modulates into a finer, more elegant profile dominated by
smokiness, toffee, and cocoa butter, alongside elegant reduction notes:
leather, Virginia tobacco, and noble woods. It evolves continuously,
becoming gentler and revealing juicy red fruit infused with soft
balsamic and sage notes.
Palate:
It seems to have it all: breadth, significant weight, structure,
concentration, and mature, almost sweet tannins. Packed with tons of
fruit and a long finish, all "graphited" by an intense oak aging that
still needs to fully integrate. Despite its complexity, it remains
vibrant due to its solid acidity.
Commentary:
It is not a surprise, but this wine still needs a few more years in the cellar—5 to 10 years would suit it perfectly, and it clearly has the foundation for it. Its style sits somewhere between "modern" and traditional, rooted in classic Rioja but with elevated contemporary details.
It is not a surprise, but this wine still needs a few more years in the cellar—5 to 10 years would suit it perfectly, and it clearly has the foundation for it. Its style sits somewhere between "modern" and traditional, rooted in classic Rioja but with elevated contemporary details.
Personal Score: 87
Tasting Group Average: 89
Tasting Group Average: 89
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