The 2004 Reserva (of which there are a mere 80,000 cases) is a blend of 91% Tempranillo, 6% Garnacha, and 3% Mazuelo aged for 22 months in a mix of new and used American oak. Medium to dark ruby-colored, it offers up a stylish bouquet of cedar, leather, tobacco, spice box, and blackberry. Medium-bodied, nicely balanced, and succulent, this ripe, tasty wine from a superb vintage will evolve for 3-4 years and perform at its best between 2011 and 2019. It is a very good value in the classic Rioja style.
Marques de Murietta remains a benchmark for traditional Rioja. Like many traditional producers in Rioja, Marques de Murietta has begun fashioning a modern (some would say international) style of Rioja.
Importer: Maisons Marques & Domaines USA; Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000