At a glance

Producer

Marqués de Riscal

Region

Rioja, Spain

Grape variety

Tempranillo (with Graciano and Mazuelo)

Wine type

Red

Body

Medium-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$85-150 USD (as of 2024, depending on provenance and storage condition)

Tasting profile

Aromas of dried cherry, tobacco leaf, leather, balsam, mushroom, sandalwood. Palate is poised, elegant and savory with mellow fruit and spice.

Evolution: Has evolved from primary fruit to complex tertiary notes (earth, leather, balsamic), with fading freshness.

At peak: At peak a few years ago: richest in layered fruit, oak spice, freshness. Now best for those who value mature Rioja's savory qualities.

Structure

Acidity

Medium, now rounded and gentle

Tannins

Silky, fully resolved

Alcohol

13.5% ABV (typical)

Aging potential

Estimated to have peaked and now gently declining; drink promptly

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2012 to 2018

Optimal window

2009 to 2022

Current status

End of drinking window; still enjoyable if well stored, but declining

Current condition

Showing tertiary development, softness in tannins, potential fading of fruit

Gran Reservas from good Rioja vintages typically peak 15-20 years after harvest when cellared well. The 2001 vintage is renowned, but most bottles are now showing advanced maturity; best drunk soon.

Food pairing

Slow-braised lamb, aged Manchego, mushroom risotto, roasted game birds.

Serving

Decant

Not required

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 6/10

Historically conventional farming; increased focus on sustainability since late 2010s (renewable energy, reduced packaging weight, water re-use). Earlier vintages less comprehensive.

Marqués de Riscal is a historic winery. While they have made significant sustainability investments since the late 2010s (solar energy, recycled materials, sustainable viticulture), in 2001 the estate followed more conventional practices without third-party certification. No synthetic pesticide reduction or organic transition was in place for the 2001 vintage. Environmental impact from this vintage's production and transport remains typical for classic Rioja, with limited carbon mitigation efforts at that time.