Marques de Murrieta Gran Reserva 2012

Marques de Murrieta is a famous Spanish winery known not only in its homeland but also far beyond its borders. The estate is named after Luciano Murrieta, the Marquis of Murrieta, who is considered the "father" of modern winemaking in Rioja. After honorable service in the Spanish army, the king gifted him an estate and lands in the southeast of Logroño, where Luciano planted the famous vineyard around the beautiful Ygay estate in 1872. After spending three years in Bordeaux on military duty, he learned much about the latest French winemaking technologies, which he later implemented at his own winery. Luciano Murrieta experimented extensively with aging wine in oak barrels, and the first successful red wines he created were immediately exported to Cuba, where they achieved great success. This recognition inspired the marquis, and he enthusiastically continued his work. After some time, his wines made their way to Paris, where in 1878 and 1879 they won one gold and two silver medals, astonishing seasoned French winemakers. Today, the family business is managed by the ambitious and dynamic young Count Vicente Dalmau Cebrian-Sagarriga, Count of Creixell. The count's father purchased the winery in 1983, investing significant funds to revive the business. After his untimely death in 1996, the estate passed to Vicente. At the age of 25, he confidently took charge, assembled a new team, and began creating modern elegant wines with a unique style. Thus began a "new era" in the history of the Marques de Murrieta brand, whose main philosophy is striving for quality and perfection through tradition and innovation. The winery is located in the southern part of the Rioja Alta region, where the beautiful Ygay estate and the unique Canaja vineyard of 300 hectares are situated. Eighty percent of the vineyard area is planted with Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo, and Viura (Macabeo), with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate's own vineyard guarantees the winery complete control over the quality of the harvested crop and is key to the unique style of Marques de Murrieta wines. In the old cellar of the winery, dating back to 1872, the best wines are aged in 225-liter oak barrels under the strict supervision of winemaker Maria Vargas. Under her guidance, great red wines of Rioja such as Marques de Murrieta Reserva, Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva, Dalmau, and two white wines Capellania Reserva and Albarino Pazo Barrantes have been created.