Dalmau - a Parkerised Rioja

This is Dalmau, a modern Parker style wine from Bodegas Marques de Murrieta of Rioja. Whilst traditional Rioja wines tend to be pale from prolonged oak aging, Dalmau is altogether more concentrated. It is oaky too, but from 21 months of aging in new French barriques and contains some Cabernet Sauvignon, which is not in the traditional Rioja blend. Part of the concentration also comes from the fruit, which is harvested from a vineyard over 50 years old in the famed Ygay estate.

I remember the first time we had this wine. It was the second Peter's Wine Circle dinner in December 2002 on the theme of Rioja. Two wines stood out from the crowd and both were from Bodegas Marques de Murrieta. This Dalmau 1994 (rated WS86, RP87) was one and the other was a 1970 Castillo Ygay. What a night!