XR Reserva
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2036
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb, grilled red meats, and aged cheeses such as Manchego.
✨ Technical Specifications
Marqués de Riscal, founded in 1858, is a cornerstone of Rioja's winemaking history. The 'XR' label pays homage to a historic cellar tradition: during the late 19th and 20th centuries, the winemaker would mark exceptional casks with the chalk letters 'XR' (Extra Reserva) to denote wines of superior quality destined for the winery's private collection. Revived as a modern tribute, this Reserva is crafted primarily from Tempranillo with a touch of Graciano, sourced from old vines in the clay-limestone soils of Rioja Alavesa. Aged in American oak barrels, it beautifully bridges classic Rioja elegance with modern fruit intensity, offering a complex profile of dark berries, liquorice, sweet spices, and balsamic undertones.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1858 by Camilo Hurtado de Amézaga, Herederos del Marqués de Riscal pioneered modern viticulture in Spain by importing Bordeaux vinification techniques and oak barrel maturation to Rioja Alavesa. Situated in Elciego, the estate capitalizes on high-altitude vineyards framed by the Sierra de Cantabria, planted on chalky clay-limestone soils under a moderating Atlantic-continental microclimate. In the 1970s, Riscal drove the revival of Rueda, introducing Sauvignon Blanc and rejuvenating indigenous Verdejo. Across both denominaciones, the producer champions sustainable, regenerative viticulture, with all estate vineyards in Rueda certified organic and Rioja holdings transitioning swiftly. Winemaking balances classical European elegance with precision: the Reserva and Gran Reserva bottlings deliver supple Tempranillo infused with Graciano and refined via American oak, while the cuvée Barón de Chirel embodies concentrated, old-vine terroir mastery. Crowned by Frank Gehry's architectural masterpiece, Marqués de Riscal remains a global benchmark uniting 19th-century cellar heritage with contemporary oenology.
🍇 Grapes
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo