Plum, prune and leather aromas set up a lively palate with vibrant acidity. Plum, currant, vanilla and tobacco flavors form a classic Rioja mix, while vanilla, brown sugar and chocolate hints soften the finish.\n \n Producer Information\n Marqués de Riscal is one of Rioja's oldest and most famous wine estates. It makes a range of traditional-style Rioja wines made predominantly from Tempranillo, as well as a white wine from Rueda. Nowadays, the estate is as famous for the distinctive, Frank Gehry-designed hotel that forms part of the estate as it is for its wines. The company was founded in 1858 by the diplomat Camilo Hurtado de Amézega, the Marqués de Riscal. He had been living in Bordeaux and decided to bring French winemaking techniques back to his estate in Elciego. His wines became so popular that wire was stretched over the bottles to combat forgery, a feature that remains on many Rioja wines today. Over 150 years later, Marqués de Riscal is one of the oldest bodega of the Rioja appellation. The Marqués de Riscal estate covers around 500 hectares (1235 acres) of vineyards planted to Tempranillo, Graciano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mazuelo. These are planted in the general vicinity of Elciego and generally sit on chalky clay terraces formed by the Ebro river. In addition to this, a further 985 ha (2430 acres) are managed under contract. The elegant, floral Reserva is the flagship in terms of production – around 5 million bottles are produced a year. It is aged for around two years in American oak, and represents a classic Rioja style. On the other hand, the more modern Baron de Chirel wine is aged in French oak, and is unusual for its proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is permitted at Riscal for historical reasons. Finca Torreia, introduced in 2006, is the 'modern style' deluxe cuvée in the portfolio, although it emphasises elegance over super-ripe fruit. In the 1970s the company expanded its holdings to Rueda, a region 170 miles (275km) southeast of Rioja. Riscal make four wines in the DO, and have become the largest grower in the appellation with 135ha (333 acres) of Verdejo and 70ha (173 acres) of Sauvignon Blanc. Marqués de Riscal is credited with reviving the reputation of the former, which is now among the most planted white varieties in Spain.
