Marques de Murrieta - Rioja 'Dalmau' Reserva 2019

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. To speak about Dalmau is to speak about Canajas, a unique single vineyard within the 741-acre Ygay Estate. The vines in that vineyard are more than 60 years old and are located at 465 meters. Long maceration during fermentation, aging in new French oak barrels and very limited production characterize the wine.

Grapes are first carefully destemmed and then each variety ferments separately for 11 days. Tempranillo ferments in stainless steel and cabernet sauvignon and graciano in small oak vats. Pumping over and delestage (rack-and-return) operations are carried out on a daily basis.

The grapes are vinified separately to keep their peculiarities intact. Dalmau 2017 was aged 23 months in 225-liter new French oak barrels from Allier, and then 12 months in the bottle before release.

This modern Rioja wine made from tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon and graciano perfectly reflects the innovations taking place at Marqués de Murrieta.

"The 2019 Dalmau Reserva was produced with a blend of 86% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Graciano from Pago Canajas within the property, nine hectares planted in 1945 on red stony soils where they seek low yields to achieve concentration. It's a powerful red with 14.5% alcohol where all the varieties fermented destemmed separately in 13,900-liter oak vats with pumping over and délestage. It matured in French oak barrels for 20 months. There is a big change in this wine that increases its freshness and elegance, and they skipped the 2018 because they were not fully convinced and jumped to this 2019, the first one from the new era, produced in the new winery and fermented in oak vats. The big change is driven by the search for freshness and elegance and the effect of the new fermentation chamber and the fermentation oak vats. This could very well be the finest Dalmau ever produced, with the style of the new era of Marqués de Murrieta. It's a wine with a new and stronger personality that goes beyond the varieties used, so that they feel very integrated and complementing each other. Refined, super elegant and fine tannins frame the palate of this exceptional wine. 15,526 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2021. They skipped the 2018 vintage of this, and the 2019 will be released in January 2023." - 95 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Producer: Marques de Murrieta

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Varietal: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Graciano

Appellation: Rioja Reserva

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml