Excellens Especial
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled lamb chops with Mediterranean herbs, roasted duck breast, and cured Spanish meats like Jamón Ibérico.
✨ Technical Specifications
Marqués de Cáceres was founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner, who revolutionized Rioja winemaking by introducing Bordeaux-style techniques learned during his family's exile in France, aided by the legendary enologist Émile Peynaud. The 'Excellens Especial' is a modern, gastronomy-focused expression of Rioja Alta, crafted predominantly from old-vine Tempranillo grown in the clay-limestone soils around Cenicero. Unlike traditional Riojas aged heavily in American oak, this cuvée is aged in fine French oak barrels, which imparts a refined structure, subtle spice, and velvety tannins while preserving the vibrant, lush red fruit character of the grape.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner in Cenicero within the Rioja Alta subregion, Marqués de Cáceres revolutionized Spanish winemaking by uniting centuries-old Riojan heritage with modern Bordeaux techniques guided by legendary enologist Émile Peynaud. Today directed by Enrique's daughter Cristina Forner, the family-run estate continues its commitment to terroir-driven viticulture and elegant French oak aging, expanding beyond Rioja into prestigious regions like Rías Baixas and Rueda. The bodega is internationally celebrated for its impeccably balanced Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva cuvées, modern prestige bottlings such as Gaudium and MC, as well as nuanced barrel-fermented whites like Antea.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo