🇪🇸 Marqués de Griñón Syrah Dominio de Valdepusa 2019

Spain’s OG “single-estate flex” Syrah, from the vineyard that basically said “fine, I’ll do it myself” back in the early 90s. Bold, polished, and built to age like it has a personal trainer.

Wine Description

This is Marqués de Griñón Syrah 2019 from Dominio de Valdepusa, a Vino de Pago estate in Malpica de Tajo (Toledo), meaning the grapes come from the estate and the wine is made and aged right there on the property. That “VP” status is not a marketing sticker, it’s Spain’s top tier for single-estate terroir wines.

The Syrah comes from what the producer calls Spain’s pioneering Syrah vineyard, planted 1991–1992 in the Montes de Toledo next to the River Pusa. It’s a serious, cellar-friendly red with the kind of structure that still knows how to flirt. 

Winemaking notes for this bottling point to long maceration and a proper French oak élevage (commonly listed at 12–15 months), aiming for depth without turning the wine into a lumberyard cosplay. 

Vine-To-Table: Meet the Winemaker 

Raquel Carrasco is listed as the technical director and enologist for Pagos de Familia Marqués de Griñón. She trained as an Agricultural Technical Engineer and completed a Master’s in Viticulture and Enology at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, started at Dominio de Valdepusa in 2002, and is noted as responsible for production since 2019. 

The Vibe 

This is not “party Syrah.” It’s “dim the lights, put the phone facedown” Syrah, polished texture, dark-fruited core, and that savory, grown-up energy you get when a warm-climate site still has real structure behind the smile.

What it tastes like

Wine Enthusiast describes it in the black-fruit lane with spice and smoke, plus a grippy finish that keeps things serious rather than sweet. Expect a Syrah that leans powerful and sleek, not jammy or cartoonish. 

Pairing + When to drink it 

Give it lamb, steak, roast anything, or a mushroom-heavy situation that needs a red with shoulders. Drink now with air if you’re impatient, or hold if you like your reds with extra confidence, because this wine is built for the long game. 

Quick Specs

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

• Winemaker: Raquel Carrasco (Dirección técnica / Enologist) 

• Region/Appellation: VP Dominio de Valdepusa (Vino de Pago), Malpica de Tajo, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha 

• Grapes: Syrah (100%) 

• Vintage: 2019 

• Winemaking/Aging: Long maceration commonly listed up to ~4–5 weeks; aging commonly listed at 12–15 months in French oak (Allier), new and semi-new 

• ABV: 14.5% 

• Bottle size: 750 ml 

Critic Reviews

• Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast: 92 points

  • Reviewed vintage: 2019

  • Date: Nov 1, 2023

  • Short excerpt: Notes black fruit with spice and smoke, plus gripping tannins on the finish.

  • Source: Wine Enthusiast review page 

FAQs

Q: What does “Vino de Pago” mean for Dominio de Valdepusa, and why should I care?
A: Dominio de Valdepusa earned Spain’s national “VP” single-estate status in 2003, meaning the grapes must come from the estate and the wine must be made and aged on-site. It’s Spain’s top-level framework for terroir-first, estate-controlled wines.

Q: Is this really one of the first Syrah vineyards in Spain?
A: The producer describes this Syrah as coming from Spain’s pioneering Syrah vineyard, planted in 1991–1992 in the Montes de Toledo near Malpica de Tajo. The vineyard sits next to the River Pusa, which is also tied to irrigation for the estate.

Q: What’s the vineyard altitude at Dominio de Valdepusa, and does it matter?
A: A commonly cited figure for the vineyards is about 490 meters above sea level, which helps nights cool down and keeps structure in the grapes. That day-night swing is part of why the wines can feel powerful without going soft. 

Q: What are the soils at Dominio de Valdepusa, and why is limestone always mentioned?
A: The site is described as clay and limestone, with limestone playing a major role in the estate’s soil identity. That combo is a classic setup for reds with grip and longevity. 

Q: Who is Raquel Carrasco at Marqués de Griñón, and what’s her “cred” beyond the job title?
A: She’s listed as the technical director and enologist, with formal training including a Master’s in Viticulture and Enology from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. She began at Dominio de Valdepusa in 2002 and is noted as responsible for production since 2019. 

Q: How sunny is Dominio de Valdepusa, really?
A: One widely cited regional profile puts the sunshine around 2,800 hours annually, which is a lot of daylight to ripen serious reds. The estate’s climate is also described as continental, with hot summers and cold winters.