Marques de Caceres
2008 Rioja Reserva
Tempranillo
Spain: Rioja & Navarra
Mission Briefing
Storied Spanish
Today’s Marques de Caceres 2008 Rioja Reserva is one to swoon over. Crafted only in the best vintages, this is one Reserva that truly lives up to the title.
Chock full of bold dark fruit and spicy terroir notes, today’s wine is everything we love in a Tempranillo. The La Guia Repsol Wine Guide, which is Spain’s equivalent to the Michelin Wine Guide, raved about today’s wine, awarding it 91 Points.
There are only a handful of cases left of today’s wine, and Agent Red was able to get his hands on every last one, so please hurry!
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Deep, dark, almost inky scarlet. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Dark and rich aromas of black cherry and sweet plum leap from the glass, joined by hints of dark baking spices, sweet tobacco leaf, and dried rose petals. |
| Taste: | Concentrated and deep flavors of braised plum and freshly picked blackberry lead the way on the palate, with notes of sweet tobacco leaf, toasted sandalwood, dark baking spices, sage, rosemary, and a lingering echo of black peppercorn. |
| Finish: | A very lengthy finish, highlighted by fantastic structure and hints of barrel spice. |
| Pairing: | Grilled tuna, served with roasted red tomatoes and asparagus. |
What the Winery Says
Dark ruby color. Intense and complex bouquet combining fruits of the forest and a hint of spice, with a slight depth of floral notes. Dense and delicious in the mouth, where exquisite tannins reveal refined toasted notes acquired from select oak. Balanced complexity and rich flavors provide good length and tempt a pleasant tasting experience.
A splendid bottle to marry with savory fish dishes, such as fresh tuna in spicy tomato sauce, refined delicatessen products (chorizo, salami), all kinds of beef (roasted, stewed or grilled), foie gras, duck partridge, game and mature cheese.
Wine Spectator Review The black cherry, plum, toast and tobacco flavors show good depth in this polished red. The tannins are firm, but remain well-integrated and balanced with the acidity, segueing pleasantly into a sanguine finish. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2017.
- Accolades
- 91 Points - La Guia Repsol Wine Guide
- Appellation
- La Rioja, Spain
- Fruit Variety
- 85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano
- Cooperage
- 20 months in French oak
About the Winery
Founded in 1970, with its first release in 1975, Marqués de Cáceres the Rioja bodega was established by Henri Forner, whose family has been active in the wine business for generations. The winery is named for a Spanish peer who was also an investor in the winery and a friend of Henri Forner.
The Forner family fled Spain during the Spanish Civil War and settled in France. In the early 1960s, Henri Forner and his brother Elysée bought and restored two abandoned châteaux, Château Camensac and Château Larose-Trintaudon. These châteaux are now recognized as two of the finest properties in Bordeaux. When Henri decided to establish a bodega in his homeland, he selected what he considered the finest viticultural area in Spain: Cenicero in Rioja Alta.
Emile Peynaud, former professor and chief wine researcher at the University of Bordeaux, was initial consultant to the winery. Today, Michel Rolland is wine consultant at Marqués de Cáceres and Henri and his daughter, Christine, are at the helm. The vinification methods at Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres are similar to those used in Bordeaux. Thus, French winemaking techniques and expertise have been applied to native Spanish grapes to produce one of the finest modern Riojas.