MARQUES DE RISCAL RESERVA RIOJA 2018
TASTING NOTES
| Grape: | 96% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano |
| Vineyard: | Marqués de Riscal (Organic) |
| Origin: | Rioja, Spain |
| ABV%: | 14.2% |
| Colour: | Ruby red |
| Aromas: |
Intense black-cherry colour with good depth of colour and hardly any signs of evolution. Very expressive aromas on the nose with notes of liquorice, cinnamon and black pepper, with just a subtle hint of the long cask-ageing, thanks to its great complexity and ripe, concentrated fruit. |
| Flavours: |
Fresh and easy to drink on the palate, good backbone and lovely, polished tannins. The long, persistent finish leaves gentle balsamic reminders of the finest quality. |
Winemaking Highlights
Marqués de Riscal Reserva wines are made mainly from grapes from tempranillo vines planted before the 1970s, grown in the best clay-limestone soils of the Rioja Alavesa.
This variety withstands oak- and bottle ageing well thanks to its good balance of acidity and fine tannin. The Graciano variety, whose presence in the blend does not exceed 10%, provide crispness and a lively colour.
Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 26ºC and the maceration time is never more than 12 days. Riscal reservas spend around two years in American Oak Barrels, producing a wine which corresponds to the classic Rioja style: fresh, fine, elegant and very suitable for laying down for many years. Before release for sale it spends a minimum of one year rounding off in the bottle; time enough to show how much complexity tempranillo is able to achieve.
Food Pairing
This wine goes well with ham, mild cheeses, casseroles which are not highly spiced, bean and pulse dishes, poultry, red meat, grills and roasts.