Marques de Riscal Gran Reserva

In the glass

Aroma: dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, balsamic, sweet spice

Palate: macerated red fruit, leather, fine tannin, savoury

The classical Gran Reserva from the historic Elciego house, long-aged in American oak; savoury, dried-fruit and tobacco-led, made only in the better years.

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.
• Roast partridge
  Game and the Gran Reserva's tobacco depth align.

History

The Gran Reserva is made in the better vintages and aged for years in American oak, a classical expression of the historic house.

1. 1862 — Early Gran Reserva style established at Elciego

Facts

Producer

Marques de Riscal

Grapes

Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (7%), Mazuelo (3%)

Classification

DOCa Rioja

Oak

Around 30 months in American oak, then long bottle ageing

ABV

14.0%

Price

EUR 30 to 55 at retail

Drinking window

8 to 25 from vintage

First vintage

1862

Scores

• Tim Atkin 92 (2015 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Tags