96pts Decanter

Beautiful nose, with strawberries and black pepper. Hints of flowers and toast in the background. On the palate, it's so delicate and elegant, but also with a great structure and volume. Both delicate and powerful, this is a wonderful — and quite irresistible — wine.

94pts James Suckling

Aromas of flowers, cedar and blackberries follow through to a full body with ripe, firm tannins and a flavorful finish. This is a modern and focused Rioja with structure and sophistication. Drink or hold.

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.

Tasting Notes

Very deep, cherry red colour with a vivid hue at the rim. As with good Bordeaux wines, it is somewhat closed to begin with. Smoked, spicy aromas (nutmeg, cinnamon) appear, with black liquorice, ripe red and black fruits (blueberries, blackcurrants) and balsamic notes, with very good intensity. Perfectly integrated oak. There is tension on the palate, great youthfulness and an outstanding creamy texture that fi lls the mouth.

The tannins are lively, polished and very fi ne. Broad and long, meaty and structured, but elegant with great freshness and fruit on the finish. Drink now and/or lay down. Power and pleasure.

Pair With: Pulses, poultry, lamb chops, sweetbreads, stews, roasts, grilled or barbecued meat

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.