Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2021 – When a Wine Wakes Up

There are some wines you enjoy, and then there are wines that make you stop mid sip and think hang on a minute, this is something else.

That was exactly my experience with Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2021.

I went into this one fairly open minded, paired it with a proper meal, and what followed was one of those moments where you feel your palate take a step forward.

The Setup Ribeye, Chips and Rioja

I went classic with the food. Ribeye steak, creamed greens and triple cooked chips. It felt like the right kind of night for a Rioja, and it absolutely was.

From the first sip, it was clear this wine had something about it. Not just nice, not just easy drinking, but that slightly elevated feel that makes you take notice.

On the Nose – Coconut and Cherry

Straight away, the nose stood out.

There was this really distinct coconut macaroon note, which I wasn’t expecting to hit quite so clearly. Alongside that came a rich cherry jam character, almost sweet and inviting without being over the top.

It’s one of those aromas where you don’t have to search for it. It just comes to you.

In the Glass – Cherry Pie and Cream

On the palate, it all came together.

Cherry pie is the best way I can describe it, but not in a simple or one dimensional way. There’s depth to it. That cherry fruit sits alongside a creamy, vanilla-driven texture that almost gives it that ice cream on top feel.

It’s smooth, but not soft. There’s still structure there, just very well put together.

This is where I started thinking this tastes like a proper wine.

That High End Feel

It’s hard to explain if you haven’t experienced it yet, but there’s a moment with certain wines where everything just feels aligned.

Nothing sticks out. Nothing feels rough or forced. The flavours move, they evolve, and most importantly, they stay with you.

That’s what this had.

The finish lingered with cherry, spice and just a touch of something more savoury starting to creep in.

The Transformation

What really made this wine stand out though was how much it changed.

I decanted it and, if anything, it went a little quiet. Almost muted, like it had taken a step back. If I’d judged it there, I’d have missed the best part.

Then about an hour later, it just opened up.

Everything came alive. The fruit, the oak, the structure. Layers started to show themselves, and that’s when the leather note began to appear, adding another dimension to the whole experience.

It genuinely felt like the wine had woken up.

Why This One Works

There’s a reason Rioja has the reputation it does, and this bottle shows it perfectly.

You’ve got that classic combination of Tempranillo fruit and American oak working together. The coconut and vanilla from the oak, the cherry and plum from the grape, and then those savoury notes starting to develop with air.

It’s balanced, it’s expressive, and it evolves in the glass, which is exactly what you want when you’re starting to look for more than just a nice drink.

Final Thoughts

This is one of those wines that makes you understand why people fall in love with Rioja.

It delivers flavour straight away, but it also rewards patience. Give it time and it gives you more back.

For me, this wasn’t just a good bottle, it was a bit of a marker. The kind of wine that makes you realise your palate is starting to pick things up properly.

And if this is the level you can get at this price point, it makes you very curious about what’s next.