2021 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Rioja
96DC
96JD
95RP
95TA
94JS
94VN
$27.99
Fulfillment times vary, for estimated turnaround times
Availability by location
New York City: 9
96
Decanter
Reviewed February 2025Elegant yet perfectly structured, this is the most floral of the Murrieta Reservas I’ve tasted in recent years. With 8% Graciano and 4% Mazuelo, the nose is perfumed with pretty rose petal and delicate red berry fruit, as well as wild herbal aromas. Blueberry fruit typical of Tempranillo directs the palate, rounded out with a little fleshy Garnacha, and framed by subtle American oak. It offers immediate appeal but will age gracefully for many years to come. (BW)
Professional Reviews
96
Jeb Dunnuck
Even more outstanding than the 2020, the incredibly priced 2021 Reserva is young in boisterous blue fruit, with a generous, full-bodied palate of richness and upfront power. The tannins add length and breadth to the wine, which is tasting great and could go another 10-15 years. Marques De Murrieta is the Rioja-based sister brand of Pazo De Barrantes in Rias Baixas. (VB)
95
Wine Advocate
Their flagship wine comes from one of the finest vintages in recent times. The 2021 Marqués de Murrieta was previously called the Reserva and still qualifies as such, but it's not included in the name now. It was produced with 86% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha Tinta from their 300 hectares of vines in their Ygay estate on limestone and clay soils with alluvial influence. The grapes were picked between the 27th of September and the 15th of October, and each plot and variety was vinified separately in stainless steel, matured in American oak barrels for 26 months, then blended and kept in concrete for a few months until bottling, which was a longer élevage this year. It's very spicy, peppery, with a combination of berry fruit and some incipient tertiary aromas, hints of forest floor and truffle. It's very Rioja, with clout, elegance and freshness and the elegant tannins that are the signature of 2021. It comes in at 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.6, denoting ripeness and balance. It's delicious, fresh and available. Bravo! (LG)
95
Tim Atkin
Production runs to more than 800,000 bottles, so the quality of this cuvée of Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo and 2% Garnacha is especially commendable. Reflecting the quality of the 2021 vintage, it's floral and intense, with aromas of Asian spices, incense, coconut and wild herbs, stylish American oak sweetness and a core of damson and blackberry fruit. Built to last.
Staff Reviews
RR
Review Date: 07/2026
Marques de Murrieta produces some of the most elegant wines in Rioja, and the 2021 Reserva might just be one of their finest releases to date. The 2021 vintage in this part of Spain was slightly cooler, and the harvest was later than average, so the resulting wine has a gorgeous sense of restraint and finesse, with an emphasis on dried floral notes and bright red fruit. This is unmistakably Rioja in the glass, with classic aromas of cedar, leather and tobacco leaf, but there’s also a freshness on the palate, and the acidity feels bright and energetic, directing the wine into a long finish. Two years spent aging in American oak, followed by several months in concrete, lend additional savory flavors and well-integrated, supple tannins. After 15 minutes or so in the glass, the wine expands aromatically, adding in violet, faint rose petal, and green herbal notes. This is such a pretty, sophisticated style of Rioja and a wine that firmly contradicts anyone who might think Rioja is too earthy or rustic for their palate. At well under $30, this wine is also a stupendous value compared to most other classic wine regions of the world – you’d be hard pressed to find another wine with this level of pedigree and finesse for such a modest price.
KK
Kerry Kennell
Review Date: 07/2026Kerry Kennell
The 2021 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Rioja is composed of 86% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo, and 2% Garnacha that aged 26 months in 225-liter American oak. Pure elegance and balance. Ripe plum dances with dry red earth, comforting baking spice, black pepper, dried violets, and tobacco. Round, spicy, and sumptuously approachable. Gorgeous and ready to drink now.
ML
Matthew Landau Hassan
Review Date: 07/2026Matthew Landau Hassan
A modern classic from one of Rioja’s most storied houses, making wine since 1852. This Reserva—Tempranillo-led with the traditional supporting cast—splits the difference beautifully between old-school Rioja and a fresher, more polished style. Ripe red and black cherry lead, layered with vanilla, sweet spice, cedar, and a savory hint of leather and dried herb from time in oak. The palate is medium- to full-bodied and smooth, with fine-grained tannins and bright acidity keeping it balanced and lively. Approachable now with a short decant, but with the structure to develop over the next 5 to 10 years. Elegant, food-friendly, and a benchmark Reserva—pour it with lamb, roast pork, or a good jamón.
Notes
Marqués de Murrieta is one of Spain’s most historic and prestigious wineries, and certainly one of the most well-known in Rioja. Founded in 1852 by Don Luciano de Murrieta, a Peruvian immigrant who studied winemaking in Bordeaux, the estate helped to revolutionize Rioja by introducing French winemaking techniques, such as aging wines in oak barrels—a practice that helped shape the modern identity of the region. Its legendary 1852 vintage was the first fine Rioja ever exported, establishing the wine on the international stage. Located on the Ygay Estate near Logroño, Marqués de Murrieta maintains its status as part of the "Rioja aristocracy" and continues to produce elegant, long-lived wines that balanced tradition and innovation. The winery’s flagship, Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, is often considered one of the finest expressions of Rioja’s terroir, but every wine in their stable shares the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
Details
| Origin | Rioja, Spain |
|---|---|
| Type/Varietal | Tempranillo |
| Alcohol Content | 14% |
| SKU | 2026999 |