In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, balsamic, spice

Palate: red fruit, leather, fine tannin, savoury

The Cenicero house's classical Gran Reserva: long-aged in oak, savoury and traditional, a benchmark old-school Rioja.

What it pairs with

  • Cordero asado al sarmiento
    Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
  • Chuleton de buey a la brasa Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
    A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip.
  • Jamon iberico
    Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.

History

Monte Real is the house's flagship long-aged red, made in a traditional style.

  1. 1890 — Bodegas Riojanas founded at Cenicero
  2. 1920 — Monte Real brand established

Facts

Producer
Bodegas Riojanas
Grapes
Tempranillo (95%), Mazuelo (3%), Graciano (2%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 30 months in oak, then long bottle ageing
ABV
13.5%
Price
EUR 16 to 28 at retail
Drinking window
6 to 22 from vintage
First vintage
1920

Scores

  • Tim Atkin 90 (2014 vintage, reviewed 2021)

Tags

cellar worthy dry graciano high acid mazuelo medium body medium tannin mood rustic mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price trade up still red tempranillo value pick
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