Good Morning Gentle Readers,
Bodegas Montecillo was established in 1874 and is one of the oldest vineyards in Rioja (pronounced: Ree-oh-ha), Spain. Rioja, in turn, has a long history of winemaking with vineyards that were already well established before the Romans arrived.
Like most wines from the region, the Montecillos Grand Reserva is crafted from Tempranillo, a grape well suited to longevity in the bottle.
As even novice winos know, some vintages are stunning and others not so much. The Grand Reserva is a limited production wine that is only made in certain years when the grapes are at their absolute finest.
The wine is a dull brick red in the glass, medium bodied with the distinct aroma of fresh cherries, which carries to the palate along with leather, something akin to Rutherford Dust, and hints of black fruits. It was aged for two years in oak barrels followed by three years in the bottle before release.
Reminded me of a stunning Grand Coronas I shared with my kid's godfather before I had kids or the need for a godfather.
Serve this wine, and most Rioja reds, with red meats or tapas.
We enjoyed the wine with mesquite grilled steaks, roasted corn and peppers, steamed peas, and baked spuds with chives from the gardens of Casa de las Rocas Grandes.
As Always,
TWC
Photo Credit (unless otherwise noted): ©TWC, all rights reserved
