The origin of Marqués de Murrieta winery is also the origin of Rioja. Don Luciano Murrieta, applying techniques learned in Bordeaux, made the first Rioja wine in 1852, with the intention of sustaining it over time.

Don Luciano´s vision was clear from the begin-ning: to create a fine Rioja wine with a great ageing potential and start exporting it outside of Spain. He shipped his first vintage, with the legendary 1852, to countries such as Mexico and Cuba, making it the first fine Rioja wine to be exported.

Marqués de Murrieta Estates and Wines is led since 1983 by the Cebrián-Sagarriga family, characterized by their professionalism and daily effort.

After 6 years of works, the major renovation project at Marqués de Murrieta was completed with the inauguration in 2021 of the new winemaking facilities, a complex of buildings with more than 25,000 square meters, built next to the Castillo de Ygay. This spacious building is equipped with the latest technology and is considered one of the most avant-garde wineries in the world. More than 50,000 square meters of gardens make it a charming and idyllic setting.

The winery is now fully modernised while remaining true to its roots and identity and ready to continue crafting the finest possible wines.

Marqués de Murrieta is a way of living that starts in the land with every single grape and we share with the world through our wines. We are a family and a professional team with the same goal: to keep our tradition alive, believe in ourselves and in the quality in the search for excellence. We work with our hands, our mind and our heart applying the technology always in balance with our history.

Marqués de Murrieta is continuously evolving with new and visionary ideas which enable us to adapt to the new times, new consumers and our dreams. Our vocation drives us to work always with passion and dignify our vineyard, every grape, every bottle, every glass of wine in any part of the world where we are present.

Marqués de Murrieta’s Rioja Gran Reserva is a limited edition wine from select barrels, created to last over time and only produced in benchmark vintages. The Gran Reserva represents the perfect balance between classicism and modernity. Crafted in the classic Murrieta signature style and enjoying all the benefits of modern winemaking philosophy, equipment and techniques.

Made from Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, this wine embodies ripe fruit qualities with a perfect balance of acidity, supple roundness on the palate and a hint of new oak. The Marqués de Murrieta vineyards on the 741-acre Ygay Estate are located in Rioja Alta between 320 meters to 485 meters above sea level.

The Cebrián-Sagarriga family, who in 1983 acquired the winery, established in 1852, has a distinct winemaking philosophy that is founded in the pursuit of quality and excellence through tradition and innovation.
Winemaking

Grape varieties are vinified separately. Previously destemmed, the grapes ferment in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation takes between 8 and 12 days during which, pumping over and punching down operations are regularly carried out to ensure the contact between juice and skins. Afterwards, the solid parts of the grapes are squashed in a vertical press, by a gentle process that extracts color and ripe tannins from the grape skins.

Varietals: 82% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 8% Mazuelo

Wine Alcohol: 14%

Harvest Start Date: October 10, 2016

Harvest End Date: October 18, 2016

Bottling Date: July 2019

Aging: 26 months in 225-liter American oak barrels

A bouquet of ripe black fruit, aromas of plum, blackcurrant and blackberry, balsamic and fallen leaves nuances. Subtly spicy and mineral undertones. Deep and fine in the palate, assembled with elegant tannins. Fluid, well-balanced with a finish full of subtleties.
Food Pairing

Pairs beautifully with duck magret baked with red wine reduction, redcurrants, raspberries and honey mustard. Decanting the wine for 30 minutes is recommended. Best enjoyed between 60º to 63ºF.

Wine Spectator 93 Points

July 31, 2024, Alison Napjus

Poised and harmonious, with a generous range of plum sauce, chopped black cherry, Earl Grey tea, graphite and cola notes sculpted by fine, chalky tannins. Long and fragrant, this is fresh and focused on the palate, with appealing hints of cocoa powder, dried lavender and leather lingering on the finish. Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2036.

Vinous Media 96 Points

April 2024, Joaquín Hidalgo

The 2016 Gran Reserva is a meticulously crafted blend of 82% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 8% Mazuelo sourced from the esteemed Ygay Estate in Rioja Alta. It aged for up to 26 months in American oak barrels. This wine epitomizes the essence of Rioja reds when vineyard management and winemaking precision align with a distinct stylistic vision. Presenting an opaque garnet hue, it entices with a bouquet of complex aromas: plum marmalade, herbal undertones, maraschino cherry, dried fruits, licorice and subtle hints of balsamic and menthol. On the palate, it offers a dry and robust profile with a velvety, juicy texture. The finish is long, balanced and harmonious. The 2016 vintage exemplifies a wine crafted for aging, just beginning to reveal the nuances and intricacies of a bouquet that will evolve with time.

JamesSuckling.com 96 Points

August 18, 2023, James Suckling

Aromas of black berries, black olives, black truffles, autumn leaves and earth. Grilled orange peel. Very complex. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a complex and complete finish. Nicely persistent and focused. 26 months in American oak. Drink or hold.