MC
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2032
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, grilled ribeye steak, or aged Manchego cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
Marqués de Cáceres was founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner, who revolutionized Rioja by introducing modern Bordeaux winemaking techniques learned during his exile in France. The 'MC' cuvée represents the modern pinnacle of this innovative spirit. Crafted from 100% Tempranillo sourced from extremely old, low-yielding vineyards in Rioja Alta, this wine breaks away from traditional classification constraints. Instead of long aging in American oak, MC undergoes malolactic fermentation and spends approximately 15 months in new French oak barrels. This contemporary approach preserves the intense, concentrated dark berry fruit, floral violet notes, and mineral complexity of the ancient vines, while wrapping them in polished, velvety tannins and subtle sweet spices.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1970 by Enrique Forner in Cenicero, Marqués de Cáceres spearheaded the modern renaissance of Rioja. Drawing on his experience revitalizing Bordeaux estates like Château Camensac, Forner enlisted legendary oenologist Émile Peynaud to introduce temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation and French oak barriques, shifting focus toward vibrant fruit character rather than oxidation. Today directed by Enrique's daughter, Cristina Forner, the house collaborates closely with multi-generational growers across Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, cultivating primarily Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano across calcareous clay and alluvial terraces sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria. Beyond benchmark oak-matured Rioja expressions—such as Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva, and the flagship cuvée Gaudium—the estate has strategically broadened its footprint. Its repertoire now includes crisp Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc from Rueda, Deusa Nai Albariño from Rías Baixas, and method traditional Cava, all maintaining the firm’s hallmark of meticulous quality, freshness, and structural finesse.
🍇 Grapes
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo