🇪🇸 Marqués de Griñón Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Cabernet Sauvignon from a Spanish Vino de Pago that basically wrote the rulebook for “serious” in the middle of Toledo. This is the OG Valdepusa Cabernet, grown on clay over limestone and built for people who like structure with their flirting.

Wine Description 

This bottle comes from Dominio de Valdepusa, the family estate of Marqués de Griñón in Malpica del Tajo (Toledo), and yes, it has its own top-tier designation because it earned it. The estate spans about 50 hectares and includes the original Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted in 1974. 

Valdepusa’s calling card is its soil: a clay top layer (about 30–50 cm) sitting on deep, fractured limestone, which is fancy talk for “drains well and makes grapes behave.” That combo is the backbone behind the wine’s grip and freshness. 

For the wine itself, this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from V.P. Dominio de Valdepusa, with élevage in French Allier oak typically cited around 12–15 months depending on the release and listing. 

Vine-to-Table: Meet the Winemaker 

Omitted. The official producer materials available in research do not clearly name the current winemaker for this specific wine and vintage, so we’re not guessing.

The Vibe 

Confident, tailored, and a little dangerous in the way it walks into the room like it owns the place, but still remembers to hold the door. It’s not trying to be Napa, it’s trying to be Valdepusa, and that is exactly the point.

What it tastes like 

Expect a classic Cabernet lane with forest berries, darker fruit, and a more “savory-mineral” edge than plush. Retailer tasting notes for the 2022 listing lean into blackberry and raspberry energy with spice, cocoa, and tobacco accents, plus a long finish. 

Pairing + When to drink it 

This is happiest with red meat, lamb roasts, game, and rich stews, plus aged cheeses when you want the night to escalate. Drink now with a decant if you like it bolder, or cellar a few years if you want it to relax into something smoother. 

Quick Specs 

• Producer: Pagos de Familia Marqués de Griñón (Dominio de Valdepusa) 

• Region/Appellation: V.P. Dominio de Valdepusa, Malpica del Tajo (Toledo), Spain 

• Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 

• Vintage: 2022 

• Winemaking/Aging: Destemming with gravity handling and extended maceration is cited by retailers; aging commonly cited as French Allier oak for ~12–15 months. 

• ABV: 14.5%

• Bottle size: 750 ml 

Vintage score references for the same wine:

• Robert Parker (Wine Advocate): 91 points, reviewed vintage 2014 

• Robert Parker (Wine Advocate): 90 points, reviewed vintage 2013 

• Guía Peñín: 93 points, reviewed vintage 2011

• Guía Peñín: 92 points, reviewed vintage 2012

• Guía Peñín: 91 points, reviewed vintage 2013 

FAQs for SEO (must be specific and genuinely interesting)

Q: What makes Dominio de Valdepusa a “Vino de Pago” instead of a normal DO?
A: Dominio de Valdepusa is an estate with its own recognized designation, tied to a specific place and its conditions rather than a broad region. The winery highlights Valdepusa as a flagship origin for its wines, anchored in a single property. Marqués de Griñón

Q: Why is the 1974 Cabernet Sauvignon planting at Valdepusa a big deal?
A: The estate includes the original Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted in 1974, which the producer calls out as part of the property’s core. That early planting is one reason this Cabernet reads more “classic” than trend-driven. Marqués de Griñón

Q: What’s the soil story behind Marqués de Griñón Cabernet Sauvignon?
A: Valdepusa’s soil is described as a clay layer on top of deep, fractured limestone, reaching at least two meters. That structure and drainage are framed by the producer as ideal for high-quality wine grapes. Marqués de Griñón

Q: Did Carlos Falcó really smuggle Cabernet cuttings into Spain?
A: The producer’s own site claims Carlos Falcó crossed the Franco-Spanish border carrying Cabernet Sauvignon vine shoots to establish the vineyard in the region. It’s one of those wine-world origin stories that sounds fake until you realize the 70s were unhinged. Marqués de Griñón

Q: How big is the Dominio de Valdepusa estate?
A: The producer describes Dominio de Valdepusa as spanning 50 hectares, with Cabernet Sauvignon as the original planting and later additions like Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Graciano. It’s a focused estate, not a sprawling “sourced from everywhere” situation. Marqués de Griñón

Q: What’s the US distribution connection mentioned by Marqués de Griñón?
A: In the estate timeline, the producer notes an international distribution reorganization that included an agreement with the LVMH group in the United States. It’s a neat snapshot of how globally positioned the brand aimed to be.