Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

It might not be my favorite style, and the vintage might not be the best ever, but the 2017 Dalmau Reserva is a serious and age-worthy red. It was produced with 80% Tempranillo and 10% each Graciano and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Pago Canalejas within the Ygay Estate, nine hectares planted back in 1945 at 465 meters in altitude. Each variety, harvested at different times in the second half of September, fermented separately after being destemmed and lightly crushed for 11 days at a controlled temperature, the Tempranillo in stainless steel and the Graciano and the Cabernet Sauvignon in small French oak vats. It matured in French oak barrels for 19 months. What I tasted was not yet bottled, but it was in concrete waiting for the 2020 harvest to finish to be bottled. The samples I tasted have a lot more Graciano, and they are taking more risk, going for more concentration, body and structure, trying to keep the elegance. It’s dark and it’s very powerful, very spicy but not really dominated by the Cabernet (other vintages have had a lot more Cabernet), and I see more of the Graciano in the blend than the Cabernet; it has the power. It has marked tannins and feels hard and still too young and undeveloped, and I think it will take even longer to be ready than previous vintages. This feels very powerful, so I would wait a few years for it. It will be bottled at 14.5% alcohol. Some 17,000 bottled produced.

Features

Type of wine

Reserve Red

Pairings

Cured Cheese, Meat Rice Dishes, Red Meat

Style

Powerful and structured

Occasions

Business Lunch, Gift

Winery

Marqués de Murrieta

Size

75 cl.

Country

Spain

Region

Rioja

Appellation

Rioja

Alcohol

14.5%

Grapes

Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Graciano

Serving

Between 16ºC and 18ºC

Winemaking

Aged for 23 months in new Allier French oak barrels.

Description

Dalmau Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Graciano produced by the emblematic Bodega Marqués de Murrieta in the D.O.Ca. La Rioja.
This red wine comes from a centenary vineyard located in Finca Ygay, which is at an altitude of 465 metres above sea level and has a clay-limestone soil with abundant presence of pebbles.

Winemaking

The grapes were harvested by hand. In the winery, the grape varieties fermented autonomously at controlled temperatures for eleven days. Meanwhile, the Tempranillo ferments in small stainless steel tanks, while the Graciano and Cabernet Sauvignon ferment in small oak barrels.
Pumping-over processes are carried out to encourage yeast activity and delestage, with the aim of oxygenating the wine and increasing the yeast content. Finally, the wine is aged for 19 months in French oak barrels from Allier and refined for a further 12 months in the bottle.

Taste

A red wine that impresses the senses, full-bodied, harmonious, with a spicy, powerful, round and solid finish.

A red wine, very expressive and with a lot of personality.

Dalmau Reserva is a red wine from the Marqués de Murrieta winery that over the years has established itself as a wine with a great personality.
In the gastronomic area it is the ideal accompaniment for dishes such as Iberian acorn-fed ham, stewed pork, sheep’s cheeses, roasted red meats, stews, grilled lamb and blue fish, among others.
And you, have you already tried this expressive red wine? Leave us your comments!