Marqués de Murrieta helped write the book on Rioja, and its 2022 Reserva shows why people are still reading it. The estate traces its history to 1852, and its flagship Reserva remains firmly rooted at Finca Ygay in Rioja Alta. The new vintage brings together 85% Tempranillo with Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha, earning high praise across the board.At $32, nearly two centuries of Rioja pedigree suddenly becomes very easy to put on the table. The story of 2022 is one of selection and timing. A warmer, drier year, punctuated by two significant heat waves, accelerated the season, with harvest beginning September 7. The fruit was picked by hand, and each variety fermented separately in stainless steel before the final blend came together. It’s a measured approach to a generous vintage, building complexity not through excess, but through careful selection and assembly. Then Murrieta gives the wine something increasingly rare at this price: time. The 2022 spent 25 months in 225-liter American oak barrels, allowing the fruit and structure to settle into the polished, savory style that has long distinguished the house. This is Rioja with the pedigree to cellar and the composure to open tonight, which makes $32 feel like the easy part.