Marqués de Cáceres ‘Reserva’ Rioja 2017
Grape Varietals: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha & Graciano
Growing Regions: Rioja - Northern Spain
Owner / Director: Cristina Forner
It has been a few years since I drove from Barcelona across to Rioja and the vineyards and winery of Marqués de Cáceres. As I have said many times…, a bottle of wine is the only time machine man has made, and once you open this 'Reserva' the aromas and rustic charm of this wine instantly bring back all those wonderful memories.
The 2017 growing season brought a multitude of challenges for their vines across Rioja, with slightly warmer temperatures than the norm. Plus very low rainfall resulting in extraordinarily low yields with bunches with intense ripeness and complex flavours in the hand-harvested parcels, ideal ingredients to script a rustic character wine. Grapes were selected primarily from vines in the Rioja Alta area, ranging from 30-40 years of age and the remaining parcels from Rioja Alavesa - both vineyards producing a broad concentration of flavours.
This wine was a team effort, crafted by Fernando Costa, Emilio González & Manuel Iribarnegaray. On arrival to the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed and crushed. After a traditional fermentation, the wine underwent a prolonged maceration, resting on the skins for up to 25 days to extract colour, aromas and balanced tannin structure, and then finishing off with 100% malolactic fermentation. Once all was calm, the wine was then transferred into barrel for ageing with racking occurring approximately every 5 months. This 2017 ‘Reserva’ matured for 20 months in fine grained French oak barrels - divided equally between new, one and two-year old barrels. The wines were then tasted, blended and prepared for bottle ageing that occurred for a minimum of 24 months before being released.
★ As you pour, you will be greeted by a deep plum red colour. On the inviting nose you have mixed aromas of violets, dark cherry chocolates, spiced plums, dried herbs, and tobacco smoke. On the medium-to-full palate the wine has a luscious engagement and silky texture. This wine has well-integrated honest tannins and a dovetailed oak confidence that elevates those vibrant dark cherry flavours to reveal a vibrant and charismatic wine. This ‘Reserva’ wine is true to its heritage and traditions, expressing a rustic charm and typicity through to the finish.
This 2017 Marqués de Cáceres ‘Reserva’ Rioja has 14% Alc./vol. Made in a classic dry style. No decanting is required - and serve in an appropriately shaped red wine glass at 16°- 17°C. *NZ$46.99
CELLARING POTENTIAL: *(Article Posted 4/5/24)
No decanting required. Drinking perfectly well this season; plus, will hold nicely for another 5 - 7 years.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
Perfect wine pairing with wild game and prime meat cuts, ideal with Ibérico ham, roast or bbq’d meats, medium rich pasta dishes, earthy vegetarian cuisine and mature hard cheese - enjoy.
