Marqués de Murrieta Reserva 2021 is a vibrant, elegant Rioja with intense blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, floral notes and subtle spice. Fresh and fluid yet structured, it shows polished tannins, balanced oak and classic Rioja depth, with the finesse to enjoy now or age gracefully.

James Suckling | JS 98
Published: Jul 30, 2025

Bold aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries and cedar turn to violets and hot stones. Medium- to full-bodied with integrated, precise and intense tannins that go on for minutes. A touch of wood at the end. Aged 17 months in oak, 10 months in concrete. Fresh and fluid yet serious. A blend of 85% tempranillo, 10% cabernet sauvignon and 5% graciano. From vineyards planted in the early 1950s. 15,000 bottles made. Drink or hold.

Decanter | D 96
Published: Feb 20, 2025
Drink: 2025-2036

Elegant yet perfectly structured, this is the most floral of the Murrieta Reservas I’ve tasted in recent years. With 8% Graciano and 4% Mazuelo, the nose is perfumed with pretty rose petal and delicate red berry fruit, as well as wild herbal aromas. Blueberry fruit typical of Tempranillo directs the palate, rounded out with a little fleshy Garnacha, and framed by subtle American oak. It offers immediate appeal but will age gracefully for many years to come.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.00%
Body: Medium
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 8% Graciano 4% Mazuelo 86% Tempranillo

The Wine Advocate | RP 95
Published: Feb 27, 2025
Drink: 2025-2038 

Their flagship wine comes from one of the finest vintages in recent times. The 2021 Marqués de Murrieta was previously called the Reserva and still qualifies as such, but it's not included in the name now. It was produced with 86% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha Tinta from their 300 hectares of vines in their Ygay estate on limestone and clay soils with alluvial influence. The grapes were picked between the 27th of September and the 15th of October, and each plot and variety was vinified separately in stainless steel, matured in American oak barrels for 26 months, then blended and kept in concrete for a few months until bottling, which was a longer élevage this year. It's very spicy, peppery, with a combination of berry fruit and some incipient tertiary aromas, hints of forest floor and truffle. It's very Rioja, with clout, elegance and freshness and the elegant tannins that are the signature of 2021. It comes in at 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.6, denoting ripeness and balance. It's delicious, fresh and available. Bravo! This will be released in May 2025. 900,000 bottles produced. It was bottled from May to July 2024.

Marqués de Murrieta is evolving in their enotourism with a small hotel that should be ready for their 175th anniversary in 2027. But the main focus is still their vineyards, where they are going to continue investing. The range is constantly evolving; this year, they showed me the last vintage of the Gran Reserva, the 2018, and there will be some new wines next year.

Marquesdemurrieta.com

2021 projects a Marqués de Murrieta with a vibrant character. On the nose, redcurrant and blackberry intertwine with rosemary and spearmint over a backdrop of cedar and spice. The palate is defined by a structured freshness, led by elegant acidity and smooth tannins that melt into a finish of wild berries and creamy raspberry.

Winemaking
Grapes are first de-stemmed and then fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for 8 - 10 days, with constant skin contact. During fermentation pumping over and punching down operations are regularly carried out. These processes ensure both effective and gentle color and aroma extraction. Afterwards the solid parts of the grapes are squashed in a vertical press. This is a gentle process that extracts color and ripe tannins
from the grapes skin.

86% Tempranillo,
8% Graciano,
4% Mazuelo,
2% Garnacha.