Wine and Food

Monte Real, Bodega Riojanas, Gran Reserve, 1970, Red-wine from Spain

6,5 points

As once written I do not know anything about Spanish wine unfortunately. Nevertheless together with some followers of the Weinbar Rutz I recently had the chance to taste a Monte Real, Grand Reserve from 1970!

Against all fashionable trends it seems there are still some rather classic and conservative vineries within the massive Rioja production. Bodega Riojanas doesn’t seem a small vinery either, but solid and modest. This vinery was founded 1890 by two families: Carreras and Artacho. The Monte Real is their flagship. As I do not know the vinery personally I refer to their webpage: http://www.bodegasriojanas.com/en.

The quality of winemaking of this winemaker is proofed by the experience of this 45 years old wine. The color wasn’t too promising anymore: intransparent but not brown. A part of the cork broke while pulling it out – so it easily could have been bad. The opposite was the case. The wine had an elegant and rich body. Tender fruity notes which were still very present and even surprisingly fresh! Dry, complex, peppery, the fruity notes were mostly black cherries with notes of cloves and eucalyptus. The finish was wonderful, simply speaking just impressive!

It has been such a good experience also because this hasn’t been a very special vintage or one of the most expensive wines of Rioja at all. Actual we had the first Gran Reserve since the first has been created exactly in 1970! If all those wines are so easily storable and have such a potential of maturing, you should be able store affordable wines like these for many – yes – decades. Grant Hill, my friend who brought this bottle, told me that he bought these wines 15 years ago, only for 20 GBP per bottle!

This Monte Real is made out of Tempranillo grapes of the vineyard of Rioja Alta area Cenicero.

Please see another review about Rioja: https://avdwineandfood.net/2015/03/29/marcques-del-hueco-rioja-2012/