To qualify as a Gran Reserva, a wine must remain in oak for two or more years, and then in bottle for three or more. (In comparison, Reservas age one year or more in oak, followed by two or more in bottle.)

Marqués de Murrieta’s Gran Reserva is made in select vintages with hand-harvested fruit sourced from their Ygay Estate, 320 to 485 metres above sea level.  Fruit is de-stemmed, then fermented in cool stainless steel. Juice is pressed off in a vertical press, a gentle process that extracts colour and ripe tannins. The wine ages for just over two years in American oak, followed by three years in bottle prior to release.

“Picked comparatively early after the sweltering summer of 2012, this is a nuanced, unashamedly traditional cuvée of Tempranillo with 9% Mazuelo, 8% Garnacha and 3% Graciano, all from the extensive Murrieta estate. Perfumed, refined and exquisitely oaked, with the structure for a long life.