Marqués de Riscal Reserva Rioja DOCa 1.5L Magnum

Marqués de Riscal still produces exclusively Reserva-level wines in Rioja Alavesa, using only hand-picked grapes from their own vineyards. This particular wine underwent 26 months of aging in small American oak barrels and then spent a further 22 months in the bottle before release. Despite this extended maturation, the Marqués de Riscal Reserva presents itself as more delicately fruity and perhaps a touch more elegant than previous vintages. The oak tannins, previously used prominently to enhance aging potential, have been reduced, resulting in a more integrated oak influence. This vintage impresses with a harmonious interplay of the wine's characteristically beautiful mature notes, spicy berry fruit, vibrant acidity, and the subtle vanilla and hints of tobacco and dark chocolate imparted by barrel aging.