Marionette - Ego Bodegas

With a glowing ruby red and gentle reflections toward deep dark purple, Marionette - Ego Bodegas immediately casts its spell. In the glass, this red wine appears dense and concentrated, with delicate church windows that slowly run down the inside. Even the very first glance announces a powerful yet velvety character.

On the nose, an intense, multi-layered bouquet unfolds. Ripe blackberries and dark plums clearly take center stage. They are joined by juicy sour cherries, blackcurrants and a hint of cassis. Warm notes of vanilla, sweet smoke, cocoa and a touch of coconut stem from the maturation in American oak barriques. Light nuances of black pepper, licorice, dried Mediterranean herbs and a hint of graphite add tension and depth. In the background, a fine scent of violets and dark rose petals hovers, elegantly rounding off the aromatic interplay.

On the palate, Marionette - Ego Bodegas presents itself full-bodied, dense and fleshy. The texture feels silky, almost creamy, with ripe, rounded tannins. The fruit is opulent yet clearly structured: blackberry, plum and sour cherry make an impressive entrance and meet notes of dark chocolate, vanilla and lightly toasted wood. A delicate hint of mocha, clove and black pepper emphasizes the spicy side. Despite the rich fruit, the acidity remains lively and brings freshness to the powerful body. The finish is long, with dark berry fruit, fine spice and a subtle touch of smoke.

The cuvée of Monastrell and Syrah impressively reflects the warm climate of Murcia. Monastrell contributes intense dark fruit, richness and power. Syrah adds peppery spice, elegant structure and a finer, cooler berry fruit. The vineyards around Murcia experience abundant sunshine, cool nights and little rainfall. These contrasts produce concentrated grapes, ripe tannins and intense aromas. Poor, often stony soils with a lime content shape the style. They provide a light, salty minerality that resonates subtly in the background.

The style of Marionette - Ego Bodegas is distinctly modern, yet firmly rooted in the Old World. It offers opulent fruit, concentrated structure and a well-integrated oak note. Despite its power, it appears harmonious, with velvety tannins and a juicy flow on the palate. This wine is ideal for indulgent evenings by the fireplace, barbecues with friends, or as an expressive gift for red wine lovers.

For a quick overview of its highlights, this list is useful:

• Dense ruby red with deep dark reflections and impressive viscosity
• Intense aromas of blackberry, plum, sour cherry and blackcurrant
• Spicy notes of vanilla, cocoa, pepper, licorice and toasted wood
• Fleshy, velvety texture with ripe, rounded tannins
• Long, aroma-rich finish with fruit and subtle roasted notes

Anyone discovering this wine for the first time embarks on a small journey of pleasure. This sequence works well:

1. First, look at the ruby red in the glass and let the dense color take effect
2. Then swirl the glass and deeply inhale the aromatic abundance
3. Next, take the first small sip and hold it briefly in your mouth
4. Follow the interplay of fruit, spice and wood on the palate
5. Finally, enjoy the long finish and combine it with suitable dishes

Production of Marionette by Ego Bodegas

The grapes for this red wine come from the Spanish region of Murcia in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. A warm, dry climate with many hours of sunshine and cool nights prevails here. These conditions ensure perfectly ripened berries with intense aroma and stable tannin structure. The vines grow on rather poor, stony soils with layers of limestone and clay. These soils store little water and force the vines to develop deep roots. This brings concentration and a clear sense of origin into the wine.

Monastrell is one of the classic grape varieties of the Murcia region. It produces wines with dark color, intense fruit and powerful structure. It gives Marionette its fleshy, juicy character and dark berry fruit. Syrah ideally complements this profile. It brings peppery spice, an elegant acid structure and nuances of blackcurrant, blueberry and violet. In the cuvée, both varieties act like two voices singing in the same rhythm and together forming a harmonious whole.

The harvest of the grapes is carried out both by hand and mechanically. In many plots, the team already sorts in the vineyard in order to bring in only ripe and aromatic berries. The right harvest time plays a central role. Ripe fruit, soft tannins and freshness are the focus. After arriving in the cellar, another selection follows. Only clean, intact grapes are processed.

The grapes are destemmed and gently crushed. A controlled maceration period intensifies color, fruit and tannin. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks in order to clearly preserve the pure fruit aromas of Monastrell and Syrah. Cool fermentation temperatures retain fresh notes and avoid harsh tannins. Regular pumping over or careful punching down of the cap gently extracts color, aromas and structure from the skins.

After fermentation, part of the wine matures in 225-liter American oak barriques. Around four months of aging in wood bring notes of vanilla, coconut, caramel and delicate toast spice. The other part remains in stainless steel tanks so that fruit and juiciness are preserved. The cellar master then blends the different lots into a finely balanced cuvée. The barrel-aged portions provide structure and depth. The stainless-steel portions preserve freshness and clear fruit. A short maturation on the fine lees rounds off the texture and gives the wine its velvety, dense character.

The ambition of Ego Bodegas is clearly focused on character and enjoyment. Terroir, grape varieties and modern cellar techniques interlock. This creates a red wine that makes warm Spain perceptible with every sip while appearing stylish and precise.

Serving recommendations for Marionette by Ego Bodegas

Marionette is excellently suited to many culinary moments. Its dense, velvety style is ideal for dark dishes. With grilled beef, lamb chops with herb crust or braised beef cheeks, it unfolds its full strength. Spicy sauces with pepper, rosemary, thyme or a powerful stock harmonize wonderfully with its concentrated fruit and fine oak spice.

This red wine also shines with hearty white-meat dishes. With braised veal ragout, stuffed chicken with Mediterranean herbs or spicy salsiccia with roasted vegetables, it proves a dependable partner. With spicy-piquant dishes featuring chili, paprika, chorizo or oriental spices, it offers a charming counterpart. Its ripe fruit softens the heat without overpowering the dish.

Vegetarian cuisine likewise benefits from this wine. Baked eggplant with tomato and cheese, lentil stew with root vegetables or lasagna with grilled vegetables gain an exciting counterpart from it. Aged hard cheese, Manchego, Cheddar or a flavorful mountain cheese perfectly round off an evening with Marionette.

As a companion for a barbecue, a fireside evening or a romantic dinner, this red wine shows its full charisma. In a stylish Bordeaux bottle with modern, artistic design, it is also an excellent gift for good friends. This way, it impresses not only in the glass but already at the moment of giving.

The ideal serving temperature lies between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. A light chill before serving refreshes the impression and brings more precision to the fruit. Half an hour in a decanter or carafe opens up the aromas and smooths the tannins even further. For full enjoyment, a large Bordeaux glass is recommended. The broad surface gives the aromas room to unfold and guides the wine elegantly onto the tongue. When stored in a cool, dark place, Marionette offers enjoyment for several years and develops additional maturity and complexity.

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