“Rioja embodies elegance, depth and complexity, while staying true to its roots.”
Mariano García
1858: the birth of this incredible family adventure — and it wouldn’t be long before the first bottles began to stand out.
In 1895, the Lord of Rioja received a distinction that would, for the time, resonate around the world: the diploma of honour at the Bordeaux exhibition. It became the first non-French wine to win this award. That distinction proudly adorns the present-day label.
Marqués de Riscal is a famous wine producer located in Rioja, a renowned wine region in Spain.
One of their most emblematic creations is the Marqués de Riscal Reserva, often regarded as a classic Spanish wine of great quality. This wine is known for its complex taste, its aromas of red fruit and its ageing in oak barrels.
Marqués de Riscal is also famous for its impressive modern architecture. In 2006, the Hotel Marqués de Riscal, designed by architect Frank Gehry, is a work of art in its own right and has become a sought-after destination for lovers of wine and architecture.
The Marqués de Riscal bottle is often recognisable thanks to the characteristic golden wire that surrounds it. This golden wire is in fact a metal-wire cage, also known as a “mesh”. Its purpose is mainly decorative, but it also has a practical function.
- Decorative aspect: the golden wire adds a touch of elegance and prestige to the bottle’s presentation. It has become a signature of the Marqués de Riscal brand and is associated with the quality of their wines.
- Practical function: the metal-wire mesh also helps keep the cork in place. It prevents the cork from shifting or deteriorating over time, which helps preserve the wine’s quality by preventing any intrusion of air.
Let’s taste this 2018 “Reserva” together: a robe of a bright, uniform red.
On the nose it’s spicy, on leathery notes. We already know it’s going to surprise us.
After dazzling the table with its aroma, its taste — with strongly pronounced tannins — wraps around your mouth perfectly. After a few moments, just when you think the brew has given all it has, a second wave of aromas appears, bringing red fruits to the fore. A discreet touch of acidity comes to close the show, then slowly fades, offering a balanced and persistent length. A delight…….
At under 20 euros, it’s an extraordinary wine that will grace any cellar and can stay there for several more years.