Miguel Merino Rioja Gran Reserva 2020 750ml

Name: Miguel Merino Rioja Gran Reserva 2020 750ml
Brand: Miguel Merino
SKU: 1035075
Price: 62.94 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 94.3 (3 reviews)

Sample image only. Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering, the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description.

SKU 1035075

$62.94/bottle

Availability: This item is available for online ordering only. It can be picked up or shipped from our location within 4-6 business days. See FAQ for more.

Bulk Discounts

See professional reviews

So elegant. Medium- to full-bodied and substantial yet delineated and precise. Great sense of balance and amplitude, long and well-proportioned. Aged for three years in French oak. From vineyards planted exclusively on sand. Tempranillo with a touch of graciano. This will age very nicely but is already impressive. Drink now or hold.

Country: Spain
Region: La Rioja
Appellation: Rioja

Size: 750ml
Color: Red

SKU: 1035075

More about this item

Winery Miguel Merino

Shop all from Miguel Merino

Country Spain

Ever since the Phoenicians and Romans brought their knowledge of vine cultivation to Spanish soils, the country's culture has grown alongside wine production, with wine being a vital part of Spanish identity and Spanish traditions. Each region of Spain has a wine quite distinct from the others, and it is produced by smallholders and families as much as it is by large companies and established wineries. From the relatively mild and lush regions of La Rioja to the arid plateaus that surround Madrid, grapes are grown in abundance for the now booming Spanish wine industry, and new laws and regulations have recently been put in place to keep the country's standards high. By combining traditional practices with modern technology, Spanish wineries are continuing to produce distinctive wines of great character, flavor and aroma, with the focus shifting in recent decades to quality over quantity.

Region La Rioja

La Rioja is by far the most famous wine region of Spain, and remains one of the world's great wine producing regions, consistently offering deep, complex red wines of character and distinction, partly due to the fact that La Rioja benefits from excellent soils, rich in minerals and nutrients, and plenty of sunshine. The climatic conditions allow the fine grape varietals to reach full ripeness and express plenty of the best features of their terroir, making La Rioja wines some of the most interesting to have ever come out of Europe. The Cantabrian mountains to the north provide the perfect shelter from the colder, wetter influences of the Atlantic oceans, and in the beloved vineyards of La Rioja, wineries have been cultivating exceedingly flavorful Tempranillo grapes for generations for the inclusion in their fine single variety and blended wines.

Appellation Rioja

Rioja, a renowned wine appellation in Spain, stands as an emblem of the country's winemaking heritage and innovation. What makes Rioja unique is its commitment to blending traditional and modern winemaking methods. Primarily crafted from Tempranillo, with Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo as supporting players, Rioja wines showcase a remarkable balance of fruit, oak, and complex aging. Rioja's classification system, featuring Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, delineates the aging periods, highlighting the region's dedication to quality. The use of American oak barrels imparts distinctive vanilla and coconut notes, contributing to Rioja's recognizable profile. The diverse terroir, from the high-altitude vineyards of Rioja Alta to the warmer Rioja Baja, adds depth and complexity to the wines. Exploring Rioja allows enthusiasts to savor the rich tapestry of Spanish winemaking, where historic bodegas coexist with modern practices, resulting in wines that seamlessly marry tradition and innovation, offering a glimpse into the soul of Spanish viticulture.

Ratings & Reviews

JS 96pts

James Suckling

WA 94pts

Wine Advocate

Surprisingly enough, the 2020 Gran Reserva feels younger, less developed and less tertiary than the Reserva from the same vintage that I tasted next to this. It shows a good compromise between tradition and a more updated profile. The decision was to use the grapes, mostly Tempranillo with 5% Graciano, from sandy soils to achieve a silkier, sleeker wine. The difference is that this wine ages exclusively in French oak, for a period of 36 months and hence lacks the aromatic nuances from the American barrels that were used in the more traditional wines. It has aged surprisingly slowly, and it should continue evolving nicely in bottle. 3,824 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2023.

VM 93pts

Vinous Media

The 2020 Gran Reserva, sourced from old vines planted between 1940 and 1960 on sandy soils in Briones, was aged for three years in French oak. Framed by wood, as expected for a Gran Reserva, the nose reveals red and black fruit, damp earth and a subtle lactic nuance. On the palate, it is intense and lightly plush, with fine oak, supple freshness, polished tannins and a juicy core. A modern reinterpretation of classical Rioja structure.

Winery Notes

96% Tempranillo and 4% Graciano, from vines planted between 1960-1970 in clay and limestone soils at 550m elevation. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented in small stainless steel vats with frequent pump overs, completing malolactic fermentation. Aged for two years in new French oak barrels followed by one year in used French oak. Two years in bottle before release.

More Products From This Winery See more

DC 92pts

Miguel Merino Rioja Reserva 2015 750ml
Juicy, rich, deep, expressive, showing elegant American oak hints and a suave tannic architecture. Benchmark reserva, which could be taken…

$36.50/bottle Add to Cart
12 FREE

JS 96pts

WA 94pts

Miguel Merino Rioja Gran Reserva 2020 750ml
So elegant. Medium- to full-bodied and substantial yet delineated and precise. Great sense of balance and amplitude, long and well-proportioned.…

$62.94/bottle Add to Cart
12 FREE

JS 96pts

WA 94pts

Miguel Merino Rioja Blanco 2024 750ml
A hint of pineapple with a stony austere side, herbal and fennel-like. The medium- to full-bodied palate shows a savory…

$45.94/bottle Add to Cart
12 FREE

JS 95pts

WA 93pts

Miguel Merino Rioja Reserva 2020 750ml
Very focused and smoky with dried cherries, cedar and a citrusy touch. The refined, delicate palate is linear and incisive,…

$45.94/bottle Add to Cart
12 FREE

JS 94pts

WA 93pts

Miguel Merino Rioja Vitola Reserva 2021 750ml
A classic nose, refined and aromatic, showing cherries with a touch of cedar and fragrant, resinous wood. Juicy but linear…

$38.94/bottle Add to Cart
12 FREE

WA 95pts

JS 95pts

Miguel Merino Rioja la Quinta Cruz Mazuelo 2023 750ml
The 2023 La Quinta Cruz Mazuelo is stunning, floral, elegant and polished. It was produced with a grape that is…

$49.94/bottle Add to Cart