94pts Wine Enthusiast
Deep ruby in the glass, this wine has a nose of blackberry, black cherry, milk chocolate and clove. There is a nice balance of spice and fruit on the palate, with flavors of black currant, pomegranate, clove, licorice and dark chocolate. Sturdy tannins dissipate into a lengthy finish.
90pts Wine Spectator
A broad and creamy, medium- to full-bodied red, with flavors of pureed cherry, black tea leaf, dried fig and a touch of milled white pepper gliding across the palate, all supported by fine-grained tannins. Fresh and focused, with minerally iron and tar emerging on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 500 cases imported.
Winemaker Notes
At Marqués de Riscal, there used to be “winemaker’s wines” among its Historic Reservas, like the Reserva Medoc and the XR, which never became commercial names. In the tradition of the Bordeaux cellar masters, the oenologist marked some of the barrels in chalk with the letters XR as a consequence of having found special characteristics which were not present in others. This XR was never marketed as such but was always a reference point for the master winemaker. This custom lasted almost a century, between the harvests of 1869 and 1964.
XR pays tribute to all the master winemakers who, from Jean Pineau to today, have helped to forge a part of the greatest history of Spanish wine in Marqués de Riscal.
Winery Notes
Throughout its history, Marqués de Riscal has always been an innovating, pioneering cellar and reference in a constantly changing winemaking sector. We seek to make wines which are original, fresh, elegant and easy to drink. Since the beginning, we have always had a clear vocation for export. Today we can be found in more 110 countries to which we export more than 60% of our production.