Bodegas Riojanas - Rioja 'Monte Real' Gran Reserva 2010

One of the grand old names of Rioja, Riojanas has produced heroic wines since its founding in 1890. Such continuity was assured not only by the enduring commitment of the owning Artacho family but the fact that, until Felipe Nalda’s retirement in 2013, Riojanas’ winemaker had been with the bodega for 49 years (since the great 1964 vintage).

Under Felipe’s guiding hand, it remained one of the few remaining houses committed to the traditional methods that gave us one of the world's most distinctive and long-lived styles of wine.

Riojanas’ classic winemaking and fabulous quality are exemplified by the opulent Monte Real and beautifully refined Viña Albina Gran Reservas. These cuvées place Riojanas squarely in the traditional Rioja elite, yet it has always stood apart from its peers.

Produced from Tempranillo in their Cenicero vineyards, Monte Real Gran Reserva is aged for 24 months in barrel followed by 3+ years in bottle.

"Attractive aromas of mocha, vanilla, wood grain and healthy plum and red-berry fruits come in front of a creamy rich palate that some might say is a touch fat. Deep plum, cherry, cassis, vanilla and chocolate flavors are equally rich on a long finish with savory berry and vanilla-cream flavors. Drink through 2030.” - 93 Points, Wine Enthusiast

“The 2010 Monte Real Gran Reserva is a bit riper in style than the utterly classical 2011, and hence is a bit more monolithic in profile at the present time. The bouquet offers up plenty of depth and pure, ripe fruit, wafting from the glass in a mix of cassis, black cherries, cigar smoke, a bit of dark soil, gentle notes of bitter chocolate, cedar and a bit of coconutty American oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and still quite primary, with lovely plushness on the attack, a rock solid core, ripe, well-integrated tannins and fine focus and balance on the long, youthful finish. The 2010 vintage in Rioja has the higher reputation, due to its greater ripeness than 2011, but my gut feeling is that the latter vintage will produce the more complex wines over the long haul. That said, this is still a very good wine and will appeal more to those that like a bit more powerful style of Rioja.” - 92 Points, John Gilman

“All tertiary and balsamic aromas, the nose of the 2010 Monte Real Gran Reserva exploded in a mixture of cigar ash, incense, cold bonfire, used leather and forest floor. The palate was round and polished with some dusty tannins that should welcome some food.” - 90 Points, Wine Advocate

Producer: Bodegas Riojanas

Country: Spain

Region: La Rioja

Varietal: Tempranillo

Appellation: Rioja

Vintage: 2010

Size: 750ml