2009 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva Especial

Marques de Murrieta was founded by Luciano de Murrieta in the mid-19th century. Born in Peru but a citizen of Spain, Murrieta was a commander in the Spanish military whose tastes in wine were influenced by travels to Bordeaux. A few years later he began making Rioja in Spain and by the early 20th century his wines were widely admired. In the 20th century the estate was acquired by Vicente Cebrian Sagarriga, a Spanish aristocrat whose family still owns and operates the estate. The 750-acre estate is in southern La Rioja Alta. The estate grows Tempranillo, Garancha and other red and white grapes. Marques de Murrieta’s flagship wines are its Riojas. Robert M. Parker Jr. has often rated the estate’s Riojas with high scores.

Rioja Demoninación de Origine Calificada is Spain’s most important wine region. Located in northern Spain, it comprises 135,000 vineyard acres and was the first official appellation in Spain, earning its official DO status in 1926. In 1991 it became Spain’s first DOCa, Spain’s most prestigious appellation category. The DOCa is divided into three subzones: La Rioja Alavesa in the northeast; La Rioja Alta in the southwest; and La Rioja Baja in the east. About 75 percent of Rioja wines are reds, with Tempranillo the predominant grape. Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, a spicy, high-acidity red grape, are also allowed. White wines are made from Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca and Malvasia. Wines were made in this region well before the Romans arrived, though the Romans then the medieval monks refined vineyard management and wine production. In the 19th century French families migrated to Rioja after phylloxera wiped out their vineyards, and the French helped establish the tradition of wine blends, still part of Rioja winemaking. According to the rules for the appellation, a wine labelled a simple Rioja can spend less than a year in an oak aging barrel. A Criziana is aged for at least two years, one in oak. Rioja Reserva is aged at least three years, with at least one in oak. A Rioja Gran Reserva must be aged at least five years, with two years in oak.