Marqués de Riscal - Reserva XR | Spanish Red Wine

Very little rainfall in the autumn and winter. Exceptionally warm temperatures during the months of February and March. Budbreak was on April 9. On April 28 there was a heavy frost which caused considerable damage due to the ice. Harvesting began extensively on September 14 and took place in dry weather. Yields from the 2017 harvest were very low due to the aforementioned frost. In Elciego, the quality of this vintage can be considered “Excellent”, with high colour parameters and balanced acidity.

At Marqués de Riscal, there used to be “winemaker’s wines” among its Historic Reservas, such as the Reserva Medoc and the XR, which never became commercial names. In the tradition of the Bordeaux cellarmasters, the enologist used to mark some of the barrels in chalk with the letters XR, on having found some special characteristics which were not present in others. This XR was never marketed, but it was always a point of reference for the master winemaker. This custom lasted for almost a century, between the harvests of 1869 and 1964. Marqués de Riscal XR pays tribute to all the master winemakers who, from Jean Pineau to the present day, have helped to forge a part of the great history of Spanish wine in Marqués de Riscal.