MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA
DALMAU RESERVA 2020
RIOJA ALTA DOCA • SPAIN • PAGO CANAJAS SINGLE VINEYARD
"The avant-garde and power of a unique vineyard. A strictly dry, dense, and sophisticated red wine, crafted at Pago Canajas to redefine the limits of great single-vineyard wines."
Avant-garde Single Vineyard, Centenarian Selection, and the Finesse of French Oak
The Dalmau Reserva 2020 Red Wine breaks traditional Rioja schemes to offer an intense, concentrated, and highly expressive signature creation. Meticulously designed by the emblematic Marqués de Murrieta winery, this super-premium red originates specifically from Pago Canajas, a parcel characterized by its clay-limestone soils and rounded stones in Finca Ygay, Rioja Alta, Spain. It is unequivocally classified as strictly dry, masterfully blending Tempranillo (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%), and Graciano (5%) grapes. After 20 months of aging in new Allier French oak barrels and patiently resting in the winery's cellars, Dalmau presents itself as a muscular, velvety wine, endowed with an impeccable fruit load and a subtle mineral complexity that defies the passage of time.
1. Technical Details
Producer / Winery: Marqués de Murrieta (Est. 1852).
Region of Origin: Rioja Alta (D.O.Ca. Rioja), Spain.
Vineyard Origin: Pago Canajas (Located within Finca Ygay), centenarian vines.
Vintage: 2020.
Grape Varieties: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Graciano.
Wine Type: Single Vineyard and Modern Collection Red Reserva.
Flavor Classification: Dry (Full-bodied, dense, concentrated, and structured).
Aging: 20 months in new 225-liter Allier French oak barrels, followed by prolonged bottle refinement before release.
Alcohol Content: 14.5% Vol.
Serving Temperature and Handling: 16°C - 18°C. Decanting 45 to 60 minutes before consumption is recommended to enhance its aromatic openness.
SKU / MPN: ES-DALMAU-2020-750ML
2. Luxury Tasting Notes
Appearance: Displays an imposing, dense, and deep ruby red color with a very high intensity, featuring a bright garnet rim and abundant tears that subtly stain the glass.
Nose: Exuberant, concentrated, and highly refined olfactory impact. Unfolds rich notes of very ripe black fruits (blackberries, blackcurrants), perfectly intertwined with hints of bitter chocolate, roasted coffee beans, exotic spices (nutmeg), and a distinctive mineral and balsamic background.
Palate: Powerful, opulent, and rigorously dry entry. Fills the palate with a fleshy texture where the tannins are powerful yet impeccably ripe and polished. Features excellent freshness that balances its remarkable fruit concentration. The finish is extraordinarily long, elegant, balsamic, and full of character.
3. Wine Architecture
4. Recommended Moments and Pairings
High-End Gourmet Pairing: With its strictly dry profile, full body, and high tannic concentration, Dalmau 2020 demands intense and structured dishes. It harmonizes spectacularly with premium red meat cuts (Tomahawk, Rib Eye, or grilled New York steak), game meats (venison, wild boar), roasted suckling lamb, and braised oxtail. It is a masterful companion for dishes incorporating black fruit reductions or hints of bitter chocolate, as well as for very aged and intense cheeses.
Suggested Moments:
- Gourmet BBQ: The ultimate powerful pairing. Its imposing structure and dry profile flawlessly cut through the fat of the best grilled meat cuts, enhancing the smoky notes of the embers.
- Business: A modern and sophisticated limited-production wine. Impressing partners or clients with this Marqués de Murrieta gem at a business meal projects bold, exclusive taste and profound wine knowledge.
- Special Celebration: Perfect for anniversaries, outstanding professional achievements, or gala dinners, adding an unforgettable touch of contemporary luxury.
- The Perfect Gift: A cult label highly coveted by lovers of modern single-vineyard wines. An exceptional, distinguished, and valuable gift for any collector.
- Family Meal: Transforms Sunday gatherings or festive banquets into a fine dining experience, treating loved ones to a top-tier Spanish wine.
frequently asked questions (faqs)
What is the specific origin and winery of this spirit?
This distinguished red wine is crafted by the legendary Marqués de Murrieta winery. Its specific origin is strictly located in Pago Canajas, a unique parcel with singular terroir situated within Finca Ygay in Rioja Alta, Spain.
Is this wine dry, semi-dry, or sweet?
Dalmau Red Wine has a strictly dry profile. It has virtually no residual sugar content after fermentation, standing out for its imposing structure, firm tannins, and dense, concentrated fruitiness without sweet characteristics.
What is the aging potential of the 2020 vintage?
Dalmau 2020 boasts a superb alcoholic structure, perfectly integrated acidity, and high tannic concentration due to the presence of Cabernet Sauvignon and Graciano. Stored under optimal conditions (14°C-16°C and constant humidity), it will evolve extraordinarily for the next two decades in the bottle.
Is it recommended to decant the wine before serving?
Yes, it is highly recommended due to its great concentration and body. Decanting it in a wide-bottomed vessel 45 to 60 minutes before serving allows the wine to properly oxygenate, clear any reduction notes from confinement, and unfold all its complex aromatic layers.
