Marqués de Riscal Reserva 2019
Herederos del Marqués de Riscal (est. 1858) · Bodegas Marqués de Riscal, Elciego, Rioja Alavesa, Spain
Marqués de Riscal went against the grain before “going against the grain” was even a concept in Spanish wine. When Camilo Hurtado de Amézaga founded the winery in 1858, he did something heretical: he brought a French cellar master from Château Lanessan in the Médoc to teach Rioja producers Bordeaux techniques. He imported French grape varieties alongside the native Tempranillo. The result was Spain’s first modern winery, and in 1895, Marqués de Riscal became the first non-French wine to receive an Honorific Diploma at the International Wine Exposition of Bordeaux. The 2019 Reserva — 94% Tempranillo, 21 months in American oak — is a masterclass in Rioja’s unique marriage of Spanish soul and Bordelais discipline. At $20–$25, it’s one of the great values in European wine.
Nose
Ripe cherry, dried cranberry, leather, vanilla, tobacco leaf, and a subtle cedar spice from the American oak aging.
Palate
Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins — red plum, dark cherry, vanilla cream, dried herbs, and a savory undertone of cured meat and smoked paprika.
Finish
Long and elegant with lingering leather, sweet tobacco, and a dry minerality that keeps pulling you back.
- Varietal
- Tempranillo
- Blend
- 94% Tempranillo / 6% Graciano
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — Rioja Sangria Clásica: 1 bottle Marqués de Riscal Reserva · 2 oz brandy · 1 oz Cointreau · 1 oz fresh orange juice · sliced orange, apple, and lemon · cinnamon stick. Combine in a pitcher, refrigerate 4 hours. The Reserva’s vanilla and leather notes give this sangria a backbone most versions lack.
Food Pairing
Pair with: Lamb chops with rosemary and roasted garlic. Rioja Reserva and lamb is one of wine’s great marriages — the wine’s savory leather and herb notes amplify the lamb, while the fruit balances the char.
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