2020 Marques de Murrieta Capellania Reserva

About Marqués de Murrieta and the Ygay Estate

Marqués de Murrieta is one of Spain's oldest and most influential wineries. In 1852, Don Luciano de Murrieta brought French winemaking methods to Rioja, laying the foundation for modern Spanish wine culture. Today, the house is led by Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga, Count of Creixell, who combines heritage with a contemporary vision. The winery is located on the historic Ygay Estate in Rioja Alta, where 300 hectares of vineyards surround Ygay Castle. This location, at cool altitudes with chalky soils, produces wines known for their freshness, finesse, and exceptional aging potential.

Marqués de Murrieta epitomizes Rioja's top-tier and is recognized worldwide for its classic style combined with modern precision. The estate works exclusively with its own grapes, harvesting them by hand and meticulously selecting them. Every detail, from vinification to aging, is focused on creating wines with balance, depth, and character. The Capellanía Reserva is the purest example of this.

The Capellanía vineyard and grape variety

The 2020 Capellanía Reserva comes from the six-hectare Capellanía vineyard, planted in 1945 at 485 meters altitude—the highest point on the Ygay Estate. The soil consists of calcareous clay, which contributes to the wine's mineral tension and complexity. The wine is 100% Viura, an indigenous varietal that displays exceptional elegance and aging potential in Rioja. The cool microclimate allows the grapes to retain their aromatic freshness, while the old vines provide concentration and depth.

Harvest, vinification and maturation

The 2020 harvest took place manually on September 22nd and 23rd. The grapes were carefully selected and immediately destemmed. After a short maceration on the skins, a gentle vertical pressing followed to extract the most aromatic juice. Fermentation took place in a 9,400-liter concrete vat at 10°C, resulting in a pure and precise expression of Viura. The wine was then aged for 20 months in 225-liter French Allier oak barrels, followed by 15 months in concrete tanks. This unique combination of wood and concrete gives the wine its silky texture, complexity, and longevity. The wine was bottled in December 2024, with a limited production of only 35,420 bottles and 1,204 magnums.

Color, smell and taste

The 2020 Capellanía has a bright straw-yellow color with subtle golden nuances. The nose is refined and expressive, with aromas of white fruit, hazelnut, almond, and a light touch of cream and minerality. On the palate, the wine is layered and full-bodied, with a silky texture and a harmonious balance between freshness and depth. The finish is long, nutty, and elegant, with a hint of saltiness reminiscent of Iberian ham fat and toasted nuts. This wine combines power with precision and will develop beautifully with bottle aging. It is excellent to enjoy now, but has the potential to age for at least 15 years or more.

A world-class white Rioja

The 2020 Capellanía Reserva is one of Spain's most acclaimed white wines and was named Best White Wine of 2025 by James Suckling with a score of 98 points . Suckling described the wine as "a superb old-vine Viura, with aromas of meringue, pine nuts, and stones, subtle macadamia, and precise white fruit. Not fruity, but gastronomic, clear and layered with an almost full body and a finish that lingers for minutes." He called it "probably the best Capellanía ever, with potential for at least 15 years of aging."

The wine also received high ratings from Tim Atkin, Robert Parker, and the Club Oenologique. The combination of old vines, meticulous vinification, and long aging makes this Capellanía a benchmark for white Rioja. It demonstrates how, under the right conditions, Viura can develop into a world-class wine – gastronomic, complex, and timeless.

Would you like to order Marqués de Murrieta wines online?

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you these when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway with ample parking. Click here for our address. You can read full wine reviews from publications like Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator.

Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.

Wine and food pairings

• Pan-fried scallops with cauliflower cream – the nutty notes and creamy texture of the wine complement the soft texture of the scallops perfectly.
• Roasted lobster with beurre blanc – the subtle butteriness of the wine and its lingering finish make this a luxurious pairing.
• Risotto with Parmesan and truffle – the wine complements the rich flavours and adds freshness to the dish.
• Roast chicken with morels and cream sauce – the earthy character of the morels enhances the depth of the Viura.
• Pan-fried turbot with fennel and lemon sauce – the vibrant acidity and mineral notes harmonize with the delicate fish.
• Jamón Ibérico with roasted almonds – the salty and nutty notes from both the wine and ham complement each other beautifully.
•