Muriel Reserva 2004 Wine Review

This delightful wine has a deep ruby red color, and rich aroma. It is a complex wine, with aromas of earth and berries. It tastes of oak, fruit and vanilla. It is soft on the palate, with a lingering finish. If you read online reviews of this wine, you'll find that reviewers like this wine and are surprised that the price tag is not higher.

Bodegas Muriel was founded in 1986 by Julián Murúa, after he recouped his family's winery (built in the 1920's). It is located at the heart of Rioja Alavesa, in the small town of Elciego.

This Rioja wine is fermented in stainless steel vats. Then, it is aged in American and French oak barrels for 24 months. Finally, it is aged in the bottle for 2 years before being released.

Although full-bodied with deep berry flavors, the wine also tastes of oak and has hints of earth. Open and allow the wine to breathe for a few minutes to fully appreciate the aroma and flavor.

The tasting notes from Muriel winery, which we believe describe the wine rather well: "Classical ruby red color with some hints of tile like color. Very intense and complex aroma; very fine aromas from the oak maturation (vanillas, spices and aromatic herbs) perfectly blended with very mature fruit bouquet. The mouthfeel shows very balanced, fine, elegant and the structure shows rounded. Very long and pleasant finish."