Murua Wineries, belonging to Masaveu Wineries, offers its enthusiasts, collectors, and those seeking unique wines an exclusive and limited edition of 3,500 bottles of Murua Gran Reserva 1970.
With 50 years of bottle aging, the iconic Rioja Alavesa winery has focused on the commercialization of an exclusive wine made from grapes sourced from very old vineyards, some nearly a century old, located at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria and close to Murua Wineries, in the towns of Elciego and Laguardia. The customer who acquires a bottle will be able to enjoy an extraordinary experience.
After aging for half a century in the underground cellars of the winery, the Murua Gran Reserva 1970 is a true piece of the history of this Rioja winery, owned by the Masaveu family, which was the first to become part of this wine group. Its recovery is a tribute to a land of exceptional winemaking heritage and millennia-old tradition, where vineyards dominate the landscape.
Murua Winery “rescues” this Gran Reserva 1970 as a tribute to a wine region that exudes elegance and character, producing great wines that are distinguished and personal, representing the perfect pairing with Rioja’s gastronomy. It is also another step in the company’s strategic commitment to sustainability and environmental respect, achieving a perfect symbiosis between the region’s winemaking tradition and the new technologies that allow for the best extraction of its potential.
Respect for the raw material
The alcoholic fermentation of Murua Gran Reserva 1970 began spontaneously, without any intervention, with total respect for the raw material. After the thirty-one days of fermentation and maceration processes, malolactic fermentation took place on the lees in 18,000-liter French oak vats. The wine aged in 225-liter American oak barrels for more than 30 months. Afterward, a gentle clarification and minimal filtration were carried out before the final bottling, which took place in June 1973.
The rest of the aging took place in the bottle itself, in the underground cellars of the winery, completely shielded from light and vibrations, for nearly 50 years.
The result is a mahogany-colored wine with a medium layer and hints of brick red. Of medium intensity, it presents aromas of fruit in brandy, fine woods with touches of spices, cabinetmaking or leather, damp earth, and black licorice. On the palate, it shows fruit, acidity, and harmony in continuity. It is a velvety wine, with a pleasant mouthfeel and volume, and polished tannins. It has a good finish and a very clean progression in the mouth. This is a highly aromatic red, with notes of tobacco and plums, and a remarkable persistence, true to the Murua brand, known for wines distinguished by their finesse and elegance.
The 1970 vintage, rated as “Very Good.”
1970 turned out to be one of the best vintages of the 20th century, rated as “Very Good,” and it is one of the three vintages from that decade that received this rating. The wines from this vintage were characterized by being fine and very smooth on the palate, even light when compared to the current trend of tannic and structured wines, yet with very attractive organoleptic characteristics.
Having the opportunity to uncork a Murua Gran Reserva 1970 now is a true journey through the sensory memory of the Rioja winery and also a way to witness firsthand the evolution and work of one of the great wineries of the DOCa Rioja.
The bottles can be purchased on the winery’s online store for a price of 86 euros.
About Murua Winery
Bodegas Murua, part of Masaveu Bodegas, is located in the beautiful town of Elciego, in the very heart of Rioja Alavesa. In a setting of stunning landscapes, the noble main building preserves the structure of the manor houses typical of this area of Rioja Alavesa.
The Masaveu family established this winery in the 1970s, and today Murua produces 250,000 bottles made from raw materials that reflect the group’s deep respect for the land — a defining trait of a wine group present in several strategic regions of Spain: Murua (D.O.Ca. Rioja), Fillaboa (D.O. Rías Baixas), Pagos de Araiz (D.O. Navarra), Leda (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León), and Valverán Ice Cider (Asturias). Since then, Masaveu Wineries has continued to grow, becoming a benchmark for the quality of its wine production across various Designations of Origin, as well as for its environmental philosophy and deep respect for the land. The group owns its own vineyards, which allow them to capture and convey in every bottle the unique personality of each terroir.
