In the glass
Aroma: red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, cedar
Palate: red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury
A classic American-oak Reserva: savoury, oak-spiced and balanced, a strong-value traditional Rioja red.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.
How to serve Muriel Reserva
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Muriel Reserva is the group's core American-oak Rioja.
- 1986 — Bodegas Muriel established
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Muriel
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (100%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 months in American oak
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 10 to 16 at retail
- Drinking window
- 4 to 15 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1986
Scores
- Tim Atkin 88 (2017 vintage, reviewed 2021)
Frequently asked about Muriel Reserva
What does Muriel Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, cedar. On the palate, red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a medium finish. A classic American-oak Reserva: savoury, oak-spiced and balanced, a strong-value traditional Rioja red.
When should I drink Muriel Reserva?
Drink 4 to 15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Muriel Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Muriel Reserva vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Muriel Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.