Dark color with a hint of brick-red on the edge. Superb complexity on the nose with balsamic notes and refined oak. Full in the mouth with a depth of mature plums, sweet spice, and roasted coffee beans. Still fresh and discreetly lively, promising excellent potential for aging. Delicious and full with superb length.\n \n Producer Information\n Marqués de Cáceres is a sizeable wine producer located in the Spanish town of Cenicero, with vineyards in the sub-regions of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. The vineyards are planted mainly to the red variety Tempranillo and produce a range of wines under the Rioja DOCa appellation, including white wines from predominantly Viura grapes. More than half of production is exported, and Marqués de Cáceres wines are present in more than 120 countries. The estate was founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner, who came from a family that had been involved in the wine industry for much of the 20th Century. Forner was one of the first in Rioja to introduce the use of French oak barrels for aging. The winery is still family-owned and operated, and is currently managed by Cristina Forner, Enrique's daughter. The winery has over 30,000 French and American oak barrels ranging in toast levels to age different wines. Oak aging is a fundamental process at Marqués de Cáceres, and the amount of time a wine spends in oak depends on vintage and type, whether it be crianza, reserva, or gran reserva. Following barrel aging, the wines are further aged in bottle before their release. Marqués de Cáceres is known for its numerous Rioja bottlings, but also produces two quality-driven, higher price-point red wines named Gaudium and MC. Beyond Rioja, Marqués de Cáceres also has a bodega in the Rueda DO, producing wines from the regional flagship variety, Verdejo, although this is often paried with smaller amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and Viura. The company also makes an Albariño from Rias Baixas under the Deusa Nai label, and a sparkling white Cava made in the Penedès region to the southeast.
