When we talk about Rioja, Spain’s premier wine region, reference to Marqués de Murrieta is essential. This estate, which boasts the largest contiguous vineyard in Rioja, neither buys nor sells grapes. Instead, it cultivates 300 hectares in a reserve-like setting, where 85% of the vines are grown as bush vines, which are primarily Tempranillo, planted at least 50 years ago. The estate’s best known wine is Castillo Ygay, while its most important wine is Marqués de Murrieta, made continuously since 1852, still serving as Rioja’s primary ambassador to the world.

Quickly becoming a central piece in Bortársaság’s Spanish selection, we had the privilege of tasting the 2020 vintage at the estate itself. The monumental, cathedral-like barrel-ageing cellar, holding 8,500 barrels, was infused with this wine's fragrant, floral-petal and subtly balsamic aromas.

This wine is a blend of hand-picked and selected Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha grapes. After destemming, the wine is fermented in tanks with an 8-10 day maceration on the skins, followed by gentle separation of the fresh wine from the pomace via a vertical press. The base wines for the blend are aged for 21 months in American oak barrels, followed by several additional months of ageing after blending.

While many associate the region – and the Tempranillo grape in particular – with robust, masculine characteristics, this wine instead offers refined ripeness, vibrant acidity and deep fruit flavours, all with impeccable clarity. A mellow nose and palate with plum, blueberry, an array of spices and flowers, with the underlying sweetish, balsamic notes typical of the estate. Flavourful, rounded and balanced, this wine offers a remarkable experience and incredible value, considering its legendary status.