Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta was founded in 1895 by Félix Martínez Lacuesta, a lawyer, journalist, and winemaker in Haro, Spain. His overarching quest was to improve the quality of Rioja wines, and under the tutelage of French winemakers, Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta became a benchmark of Rioja wines.

The Gran Reserva is aged 36 months in American oak with a following 54 months in bottle, which aptly harmonizes the Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo into a powerfully smooth, yet nuanced and delicate blend.  Complex fruit — plums and jammy blackberries mixed with spice, tobacco leaves, cedar and liquorice. Although it’s a forward wine, this is a fresh experience. Well-balanced on the palate with silky tannins and a long finish. A great choice with food, but truly a wine to sip and linger over.

“Aromas of preserved sour cherries, wild berry compote, orange peel, plus balsamic notes and some mushrooms, damp leaves and leather. Elegant on the palate, with ripe acidity, well-integrated tannins and a very long finish.”
94 points, Benjamin Herzog & Dominik Vombach, Falstaff, April 2025

“Developed, complex and a bit old school in style, with bark, dried citrus, evolved wood spices, dried mushrooms and earthy fruit. Tight, long and savory, with some slightly grainy wood tannins that are still present. Drink or hold.”
91 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling, October 2024